CHAPTER 27: BALANCE

PART 1

It was raining.

The French capital skies were painted in dark grey colors, the sunlight was trying to find the best corner to leak through and the rain was pouring softly.

Nothing to get worked up about, a typical day in Paris.

Rain made rooftops slippery and it was harder to see where you were going, but it made the experience of running through them much more entertaining.

They had had an amazingly good weather for the past months, good weather considering this was Paris, and every time it had started pouring, Chat Noir had been with Marinette, who's "superhero costume" was basically gym attire, so he had swiftly taken her back to her apartment every time.

Finally, he could enjoy the pleasure of running in the rain, jumping from one building to another, land on the street and help people who were about to get wet by cars, or who couldn't take their groceries and their umbrellas at the same time.

After two hours and three rounds around the city, he was sitting on top of a building on the Latin Quarter, close to his home and Marinette's, watching Notre Dame in the distance.

His hair was wet and was starting to stick to the back of his neck, it made it itch. He tried his best to make a bun but his hair was too heavy because of the rain, so it hung too low. However, it was better than nothing. Maybe Marinette would have to cut his hair a bit more.

The feeling that took over him was unpleasant. He wished he could go back to those days when it was only Marinette and Chat Noir. There were lies between them and he held back his feelings for her, but on the bright side, he wasn't about to kill her. She was safe.

He shouldn't have accepted, no matter how tempting it was, to heal together, to be with her, to be loved by her and give that love back. He should have put her safety above everything, even if that meant that she was going to hate him. But the way she spoke, the passion on her voice, the shimmer in her eyes, the hidden promises she was giving to him. He was overwhelmed, he still couldn't erase the words, they were circling on his mind, echoing one time after another they were played on his head.

Love,

love,

love,

love.

How much had the meaning of the word changed? It felt like it had been years, but it had been only forty-eight hours, and before that only a few more days. Marinette's world had changed and she was changing his world too with her declarations.

This is what he had always wanted. The intense and ardent love she was promising him was the best gift he could ever ask but the timing was wrong.

"Ugh," He growled. He leaned back and pressed his back to the wall of pipes. He barely felt the cold through his suit, it was comforting nevertheless.

He played with his tail and tried to keep his mind away from all his problems. If he could clear his mind for thirty seconds he would call it a successful day.

He remembered a meditation technique one of his therapists had recommended him, and begun the first step. He concentrated on the rhythm of his breath, on how his body felt, he closed his eyes and-

"Adrien," The sound of his name was accompanied with the sound of boots stepping in the wet tiles.

Adrien growled.

Thirty seconds, he hadn't asked for much, he hadn't been too ambitious, and it was still ruined.

"What?" He rose a brow, he didn't open his eyes.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you but we think is time for you to start practicing,"

"Can't it wait? I'm busy,"
"My apologies, I really don't want to push you, but we have to. Marinette has given us two days to prepare,"

Eyes wide open in surprise, Adrien looked at Willem. "She lost her mind! This girl has no common sense, why aren't you guys stopping her?"

"If you can't stop her I doubt we'll be able to do it," Willem sat next to him, "And, I believe you can do this Adrien. I've studied your technique and how you move and take decisions when you're fighting. You're excellent, if there is someone who can do this, is you"

"You're just trying to persuade me," Adrien looked Willem from head to toe, finally taking a good look at the superhero in front of him.

Willem's suit was simple and didn't resemble much of a raven, but you couldn't confuse it with another animal either. It was all black, except at the sides of his ribs and under his arms, where the color was lighter and a few streaks of dark blue contrasted against the black. He could see what looked like feathers on his shoulders and his back.

He had gloves and claws too, not as thick as his and a little longer. Willem's mask was grey and it was thinner and sharper than he was, it followed the shape of his nose and eyes, it fell in a straight line to his sideburns.

"Cool suit," Adrien said, actually impressed with it. It was the first time he saw another superhero with his same colors.

Willem laughed "Thank you, yours is too, kiddo. But it has changed, hasn't it? I remember you had a bell when you were younger,"

"Uh, yeah. It has had minimal changes through the years, the bell disappeared only a week ago. Mari hasn't noticed," It wasn't necessary to add the last part, but he always found himself including Marinette in his conversations, irrelevant or not, he found a way.

"She's stressed too," Willem put a hand over his shoulder, "She is impulsive, I can tell, I've studied her moves too and after meeting her it's obvious, but she is smart and strategical. She gave you two days, it means she is certain that you can do this in two days. I trust her judgment,"

"Controlling cataclysm is not easy. I don't know what or how your powers are, Willem, but any derivation of cataclysm has been a hassle, and I've never dared to use cataclysm in a human being. It terrifies me,"

"My power is just like cataclysm, but I don't use my claws. I have a bow, serves as normal bow and when I need it to, carries my power," He explained, "I understand you're afraid, I was too when I had to it, and there was less at stake, but it's not as hard as it sounds, it's all on our minds. We have more control over our powers than the one we believe we have,"

"My mind is not the most reliable source of control, sorry to disappoint,"

"After all you've been through I don't expect you to be the most serene and healthy person in the world, Adrien. Naomi and I planned to come earlier and help you out, but we didn't want to do anything you didn't' want to, and you hadn't revealed the secret, not even to Gabriel so we took a step back every time. But you have something going on for you that no one can take away,"

"And what's that?"

"Your emotions are really strong, you are an emotional being. You may see that as weakness, but is a strength when you know how to use it," He squeezed his shoulder, "You love Marinette, it's all the strength you need. You won't let her die because you love her, you'll put all of you on doing this right and to defy any difficulty. Your emotions will make bloom the best of you, they'll make you strong. Your love for her will be your biggest ally,"

Adrien snorted, "That's so corny, Willem,"

"But is true," Willem rose a brow.

Adrien sighed. Yes, it was true.

"So, what do I need to do?" Adrien asked.

"Oh, no much, it's all concentration, we just need a vast space and Nino has already managed to find a place, so we just have to go,"

xx

Alya watched Nino transform three times, after requesting it multiple times, he only accepted three times. She needed one more, but she could see he was not in the mood. She still couldn't believe how easy it was, how he changed and yet still remained the same.

"I want one too," She said, taking the shield from his back. Nino had stayed in the suit because they were waiting for Adrien and Willem to start training, and now she was studying the details of the suit.

"Why would you want a shield?" He asked.

"Not a shield, I want a magic weapon, I want a miraculous," She explained, "It's unfair that I'm the one who has been obsessed with superheroes since I was a kid and I'm the only one from my group of friends that doesn't have one. I'm a sidekick. A sidekick! This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me," She bit her tongue, "Well, not the worst, it's obvious that I've had worse.. ugh, is still up there,"

"I'm sorry," Nino smiled at her, "If it makes you feel better when Wayzz introduced himself I told him he got the wrong person and that I knew someone who could do a better job than I ever would. I was talking about you,"

Alya's eyes glowed. "Really?!" She asked excitedly.

"Yes," He nodded, "But Wayzz said that I was the chosen one and that I couldn't send him to you. I accepted but I still think you would be a better turtle than I am,"

"Don't say that, you're pretty great," Alya kissed his cheek, "Also, I don't think green it's my color," Nino chuckled. "And I'm a cool sidekick, right? Like Batman's Oracle,"

"You're not a sidekick, 'Lya, you're your own team and you're the strongest of us because guess what? You don't have any magic jewelry but you're courageous and smart and use that to win. You're the best of all of us,"

"You're a liar," Alya whispered. She looked away so he wouldn't see her blushing. "So, what's Adrien supposed to do here?"

"Not break the ice," Nino said, "I'll use my water powers to do circles of ice. He needs to use cataclysm and go through them but not break them, if he manages to canalize his energy only in the points where his claws are and not let them spread then he can do the same to Mari. Willem says he practiced like this too. It's also practice for me, I'm gonna be beside Marinette all the time, controlling the ice and the temperature but also her vital signs, I need to know the exact moment when she is on the edge," Nino swallowed.

"Are you okay with this, Nino?" Alya rose a brow. "I know you think you don't have a chance, but you do. I can try to convince Marinette, maybe some grams of reason are going through her brain now that she has slept,"

"Is the only way, Alya. Marinette is the only one of us who is been actually using her logic. This needs to be done, this is bigger than Marinette. I mean, I also want to do it to help Marinette but-

"What are you hiding?" Alya asked. "There's something you have not told us, right?"

"Yes," He admitted. That was easy that she thought it was going to be.

"Whatever it is why would you not tell us?" Alya took a step closer to him so she would be able to whisper in case that Adrien and Willem appeared out of nowhere. "What's bigger than Marinette and Tikki?"
"We did not completely lie, we just considered that it would be better to talk about it later on. Marinette can give us valuable information and we don't want to muddle the situation more than already is,"

"You need Marinette's, no, Ladybug's memory back," Alya inquired. Nino nodded. "This is the reason why you came back to Paris?" Nino nodded again.

Alya's heart sank.

"I did not know Marinette was Ladybug, it was not personal, just business," Nino sighed, "I did know Adrien was Chat Noir but I couldn't bring him to this, I had to do it by myself,"

"You're not by yourself now," Alya hugged him, she pressed her head against his chest, "You can trust me, maybe I can help,"

"Maybe you can," He chuckled, "It's dangerous, for us, miraculous holders. See? Not so great, nothing for you to be jealous about," Alya giggled. Nino kissed the top of her head.

"Tell me. I won't tell a soul,"

"No one, Alya. If the time doesn't come, then you're taking this to the grave, alright?"

"I swear I'll keep it a secret,"

Nino sighed. He backed away from Alya and looked around them. No sign of Adrien or Willem.

"I'll make it as simple as possible," Nino started, "In this world, in the universe, everything has a side part, an opposite. For things to be created they have to not exist first, and for things to be destroyed they have to be created before. Scientists also talk about things like that in space, matter, and antimatter,"
"Yes, I've heard of that," Alya nodded.

"Our stones' powers are based on these opposites, on the balance they create. But, in every set, there are only two stones that are complete opposites. It's really hard in nature to find something pure, something that's its total being, one characteristic being all of it, not a mix of many. Nature is not black or white, there are grey areas, and that's why these pure elements are so rare. That's why we have only two pure stones for every set,"

"And they balance each other," Alya said, to assure she was understanding this right.

"Yes," Nino played with the bracelet on his wrist, "But as pure as they are they were not at the beginning. These two stones were one at the beginning, they separated later on," Nino clicked his tongue.

"But then they would be a completely different energy and they would be one energy, they wouldn't have an opposite to balance, right?" Alya said. That would make sense. If they were pure when they were divided then they were not when they were together, but they would still be extremely powerful, right? The energy inside the stone would need to find balance.

"Yes," Nino took a deep breathe, "There are legends and notes on top of books I've read that wonder about the balancing energy. Wayzz is younger than Tikki and Plagg but he's been around for almost as long, yet he doesn't know anything about it, but he believes that sort of energy has to exist,"

"It makes sense," Alya touched her lips when her index finger, a motion she did whenever she was deep lost in a thought, "Wait, when they are together, is the stone more leaned to its creation side or the destruction side? And why are you so worried about this? It has to exist, for balance to exist, why are you so afraid?"

"It leans towards creation," Nino said, "And I'm worried because they are two stones that balance each other, not one, that means there is a destructive force on the universe, on Earth, that's unbalanced and that only means trouble,"

"It does sound troublesome," Alya admitted, "But nothing awful has happened, right?"

"Alya, if my theories are right then this energy takes time to recharge but when it does is lethal. It's destruction. The black plague, the witch hunt, two world wars, just to say a few tragedies of this world,"

"Oh,"
"And to recharge, it needs a tremendous amount of energy. Where it finds it? Miraculous holders,"

Alya gasped, "You think if this stone-energy-whatever exist, that it tried to use Marinette's energy?"

"Yes. Marinette has the strongest energy of our set. And she is not the only one who has disappeared. I've been recollecting records, not only of our set, all around the world. The strongest person on the set has been missing most of the time, almost all of them had disappeared from the face of Earth, Alya,"

"But, Marinette is still here? I found her, she came back," Alya pulled her hair.

"Exactly! It doesn't make sense, that's why she is the only clue, that's why we need to do this. Marinette may be safe for now, but she is still the strongest of us, I would say she is the strongest of all the sets, Alya. I've met with other leaders and wielders while doing the investigation, and after meeting Willem and Naomi I can tell that she is the strongest energy I've felt. If I'm right, then she managed to escape, and Alya in the way you describe it, she barely did. I don't think she is safe and if she is not safe then no one else is. And whatever Marinette did to escape, to be here, I don't think it changed much, she is just far from it, but I have this, I don't know, I just don't think it's over for her,"

"Nino…" Alya bit her lip, not sure how to proceed.

"Tell me, don't keep it,"

"You need to tell them,"

"I'm gonna tell Marinette, once we manage to bring her memory back,"

"We are not sure if this procedure is going to work, Nino. You can't put all your cards there,"
"It' the only choice, Alya," Nino rubbed his temples, "There are no clues that connect to give us anything clear, Marinette is the only thing that can give this theory a solid ground. I won't scare my pack or my friends if I don't have proof,"

"You mean you won't tell Adrien," Alya crossed her arms in front of her chest, "You're worried about Adrien,"

"Of course I worry about Adrien, but this has nothing to do with him,"
"Oh, don't lie to me! It's all over your face, Adrien is what is stopping you, you're scared of how he is going to react,"

"Alya, you-

"Stop lying, you are already telling me everything, now just tell me why you're not telling Adrien!"

"Oh, saints, you're insufferable," Nino rolled his head. "Why am I in love with you?"

"I have the same question," Alya frowned, "But we are not talking about that. Tell me,"

Nino sighed. There was nothing he could do, he had reached a point of no return.

"You know Adrien's mom disappeared?

"Do I know if- of course, I know! who doesn't know about- oh? Oh! Oh my god!," Nino covered her mouth with his hands, she shoved it away "Her too?" She whispered this time.

"It's an assumption, but Wayzz said she was the one with the strongest energy of her pack," Nino said, "So if I'm right, Adrien did not only lose his mother to this energy, he could also lose Marinette, he almost did. There is too much going on right now, I can't put more weight on his back,"

"You need to stop treating him like a baby, he could be stronger than you think,"

"He is strong but, Alya, I know my friend, he hasn't been the same after defeating Papillon. He is sensible and he carries the destruction stone. He might not notice but the cat miraculous drains him, it's hard not to be consumed by destruction. Plagg chose well because Adrien has been able to remain good but now he is mentally ill, he is on the edge and anything could throw him off balance. I'm being cautious and Plagg agrees with me,"

"You've talked to Plagg?" Alya's tone lowered, she wasn't mad anymore, she understood.

"Yes, of course," Nino twirled on his heel, "Our conversation ends here, I can hear them approaching. It's training time."

xx

Marinette stared at the computer screen. A knot tangled on her stomach.

He was right. Not that she didn't believe him, but Adrien could be a bit exaggerated and make things seem bigger than they actually were. But he was right this time, completely spot on.

Marinette scrolled down again, reading all the information on the medical website, every word remained the same, the same words that she had read five times before.

She groaned. She pressed her cheek against the cold desk and looked up at the big screens. She was naïve, no, she was stupid. Those moments of courage were long gone and now she was looking at the situation as it was.

She could die.

That clever mind of hers, as Adrien had called it, was finally recognizing the words and her brain was wrapping herself around the idea that if things went wrong she could meet her end.

Marinette turned around, checking if Adrien was back yet.

The bed and the couch were empty and the door wasn't open, so he was still outside. It didn't feel good, being in his room when he wasn't here. He should be here, with her. But he was mad, she could tell.

He agreed to break the barrier, to put her life in danger, but he wasn't going to do it with a smile on his face, he had already warned her of it and he hadn't need to say any words.

Last night, when they both were too tired to keep staring at each other waiting for the other to say something after the heated conversation they had just had, they fell into his bed and slept. She couldn't say they slept together, Adrien put pillows in the middle of the bed and he stayed as close to the edge as he could.

It hurt. He wasn't being respectful, a gentleman, too shy, whatever excuse you could try to label it, he was angry and he didn't want to be close to her.

Marinette felt wrong. She wanted to take it all back, apologize and let him known that he didn't have to do it. But then her efforts would have meant nothing and she couldn't get what she wanted, what she needed. What they both needed.

Also, she didn't think he would believe her.

Marinette shut down the computer, she was going to lose her mind if she kept reading. Any way she tried to see it, things were what they were, she was going to freeze to death. Well, almost dead. And no step of that journey was going to be pleasant, no matter how much research she did.

She walked towards the bed and jumped at the mattress. She stared at the ceiling of Adrien's room.

She was nervous, but she wasn't experimenting any doubts, she still wanted to do this. It was her ticket back to normality, back to her own self.

They didn't think breaking Nooroo's magical barrier and take him out of her body would give Marinette her memory back, but she could dream, she could hope. They didn't know, they couldn't know for sure what was keeping Marinette's memories away. For all she knew, no matter how she had investigated, no matter how many times doctors had failed to diagnose her, this could be a normal memory loss and the magic had distorted the usual factors. She didn't like that option, and she tried to not think about it, it was the worst of them all because it was the one she had less control over. But she had a good guess that taking the kwami out was going to solve a thousand of the million problems she had, and she was trusting that it will also bring her memory back. She had to believe, at least a little.

"Marinette," A voice called. By now, she knew it too well, his voice was quite distinctive.

"Something wrong, Plagg?" Marinette sat on the bed, looking at the air looking for the floating creature, and for Adrien. If Plagg was back, Adrien was too, they never left each other's side. But, Adrien wasn't entering the room, which meant he didn't want to see her yet.

"I'm here," He said, sitting on her head.

"Is that the best place to talk to me?"

"I'm quite comfortable, thanks," He huffed, "I'll be quick,"

That didn't sound nice.

"I know why you did what you did, but if you dare to manipulate Adrien in the future like you did last night, not even Tikki is going to be able to save you from me, understood?"

Marinette wanted to smile, but she knew Plagg was being serious and she also considered what she had gone was wrong, so she tried her best to keep a serious face and not laugh. But she couldn't help but feel a little fuzzy inside. To know that Plagg loved Adrien like that made her heart happy. It was what Adrien deserved.

"I won't do it again, I know what I did was wrong," She sighed, "But I did not lie, everything I said to him was true,"

"I'm not calling you a liar, spots," Plagg appeared in front of her face, "I may not remember you being Ladybug, but I remember Ladybug and Marinette's personality. I've lived with Adrien for almost ten years, it's hard to shut him up when he is excited, worse when he is in love, so I've heard every running thought that he has had about you. Also, Tikki and I would talk about you two all time, you're our wielders, you mean something to us, as surprising as it sounds," It wasn't surprising, Plagg had shown himself as caring and lawful, but she kept quiet once again, it seemed like Plagg liked to keep a cover of who he was, she wasn't going to break the news to him. "And you better keep all your energy and motivation on keeping yourself alive. He can't bring you back as you did,"

"He is just as powerful as I was," Marinette frowned.

"That doesn't matter," Plagg crossed his little arms, "We don't have your earrings, we don't have Tikki. We can't bring you back,"

Oh…

"I won't die," Marinette promised, "We'll have Nooroo and we'll find a way to look for Tikki and bring her back,"

Plagg didn't answer.

"I'm sorry I lost her," She whispered.

"It's not your fault, spots," Plagg's eyes opened wide, "You may not remember her but I know how much you loved her and took care of her. From all the Ladybugs she was lucky enough to meet and guide, you were one of her favorites, and that is quite impressive, Tikki has had extraordinary people under her care,"

"Yeah?"

"Oh, don't look at me with tender eyes! Disgusting!"

Marinette laughed loudly.

xx xx

Marinette was on the rooftops. She couldn't remember the last time she had put on her vigilante clothes and climbed to the rooftops, but there she was. Sitting on top of a building next to hers and watching the cars driving through the night.

Yesterday's evening she had come back to the apartment. Alone.

She did not ask anyone to come with her, but it would have been nice if someone had offered to make her company. She understood why no one had come, all of them were busy. Busy with their lives and busy because they were trying to help her recover her own life. It was selfish to be mad and blaming them for feeling lonely, but she had been selfish ever since she woke up on that hospital bed six years ago, it had become a part of her now.

She wondered if she had been like this before? She did not think Tikki would have chosen a selfish person to be Ladybug, she still couldn't remember her, but reading her diaries and listening how Plagg described her, Tikki sounded like a sweetheart, a pure soul.

Marinette touched the back of her head and ran her fingers through her hair as she moved closer to the top of her head. She'd done this many, many times before, looking for a scar and an explanation that simply wasn't there.

Losing your memory was not easy, losing all your memories not only erased the people and places you once made yours, it also erased your identity.

Alya, her parents and also Adrien, said she was just the same, but a part of her always felt like they were lying. She could not be the same, she did not have the memories that developed her personality. Some of them did come back, but they always felt like she was watching the world as if it was an old movie, not the world through her eyes. Actually, she had managed to remember almost everything that could help her create an image of the people she cared about. She lied saying it was everything, and when they spoke about it she would put on a fake smile, try to bring back one of those memories that she did remember and create a response based on that.

Yes, she did get flashbacks and memories hit her every once in a while, but they never felt like they belonged to her. Every memory she had gathered had not made her remember the people around her, she had seen them and she had been curious to know more, or she had felt guilty of forgetting them and put on her best work to reconnect with them. She didn't love her parents or Alya because of past memories, but she made them believe she did, the truth is that she had started loving them after getting to know them and seeing how much they loved her.

There was only one exception. He always seemed to be.

That morning in the rain, it had struck her like a thunder and she had remembered him. It was still different to actually remembering someone, but all the feelings and emotions labeled with his name took shelter on her heart. She couldn't remember moments with Adrien, but she could remember, she could feel on her skin, how she made him feel. All those twisted, passionate and colorful sensations were warm and familiar and when she watched him she knew they were real.

Why was it different?

Why when it came to other it felt like a stranger was shouting in her head, demanding her to remember by throwing her all these old memories and when it came to Adrien it was a simple song that echoed through her whole being?

Maybe it had something to do with the connection Plagg had mentioned. Resurrecting someone had to have its consequences and secondary effects, and maybe this was one of them. But then why hadn't she recognized him when she saw him climbing up the stairs on that first night?

She sighed. She wanted this to be over already, then she would also be done with the questions.

She stood up and started walking on the roof. She climbed one of the pipes and made it to the other building a few minutes later. This must have been easier before. She saw how easily Adrien could jump and run on the rooftops when he was transformed. Maybe after they found Tikki they could race each other.

She was climbing her third pipe wall when she was two dark silhouettes approaching. One was Chat Noir, so easy to recognize even a kilometer away and by his side, she could only guess that it was Willem transformed.

She jumped to the roof and waited there until they landed by her side.

She felt fuzzy inside when she saw Adrien. She left his house the past afternoon but she hadn't seen him since Monday night. He had spent half of the day training with Nino and Willem, the other half working, there was no time for her, and he did not try to make it either. Still, she felt happy to see him, she missed him.

She waved at them and smiled, trying to irradiate as much happiness as she could. She wanted them to think she was calm, that she was ready for what was about to go down tomorrow, they couldn't know she was nervous.

"Good night, Marinette," Willem said and made a little reverence. She found that cute so she did one back.

"Good night, Willem," Then she focused her sight on Adrien, "Salut, minou,"

"Salut, princess," He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"How was your day?" She asked looking at Willem, she was not going to push Adrien to talk to her if he did not want to, "Wait, before that!" She interrupted before Willem could answer, "It's the first time I see you in costume, it's so cool!"

Marinette approached him and circled him, analyzing the whole suit.

"It's so beautiful, Willem! Can I touch the feathers?" She asked, already extending her hand to touch his shoulder.

"Yes but be careful, they're not soft as they look," He warned her. A tender smile adorned his lips.

"Thank youuu," She touched immediately and he was right, they were not soft, they looked like any other kind of feather but they felt like steel. "Do they work as an armor?"

"Yes, but I mostly used them like a shield when I extend the wings,"

"That's convenient," Marinette noted, "We don't have wings, we should have wings. Though, cats don't have wings so we should create something for you, kitty. But I'm a ladybug, I should have wings. I've been robbed,"

"You have not used your costume in years, I'm sure once we find your stone and your kwami you'll be able to do some changes,"

"That would be amazing," Marinette threw her hands in the air excited. Maybe all the fake happiness was starting to rub on her, "Hey what about your superhero name? and Naomi's? I can't believe I have not asked this before," Marinette grinned.

"Naomi has a superhero name. Me? not really," Willem giggled. "Naomi wanted us to have really cool names and she came up with a thousand in an evening we were patrolling around Dam Square. It was a week after we met for the first time, so I did not know her at all and I did not take her seriously, also, every option she gave me was corny. She got mad and is still mad every time we bring up the subject. Naomi's name is Lilabel. Lila because of the color of her costume, and in dutch dragonfly is libel, so she joined them. I'm just Kraai, Dutch for crow. "

"For my French perspective both sound really cool! Also, we don't have very imaginative names either," Marinette shrugged. She looked at Adrien to see if he was smiling or at least listening to her, but he seemed lost in a thought. "Well, now, uh… how was today's training?"

Chat Noir and Kraai shared a look. A secret but short conversation started between them, then they looked at her again.

"I think I can do it," Chat Noir said. He lifted one hand and sprawled his claws, he rotated his wrist a few times, "Or at least Willem thinks I'm ready,"

"He is ready," Willem nodded, "He went through several pieces of ice and did not break them fully. He can do it,"

"Ice," Chat Noir said the word with rage, "Ice is not a person, but it's the only training we have so apparently I'm ready to stab you with my claws with my cataclysm"

Marinette flinched. And something sparked on Adrien's eyes, something she did not like.

"Sudden change of mind, buginette?" He asked, a smile threatening to appear.

"No," She said stuttering and with no conviction at all.

"Really? To me, it seems like your common sense bloomed in your brain again,"

"Don't talk to me like that," Marinette said between clenched teeth.

"I apologize if I sound mean but-

"Adrien," Willem cut, he put an arm in front of his chest, making him take a step backward.

"No, let him finish. I rather talk this out before we do anything together and, he is allowed to be mad with me," Marinette said.

"Mad? I'm not mad at you!" Chat Noir pushed Kraai's hand away and walked towards her. "I'm worried about you, those are different things,"

"No, you're mad, but you feel like you can't be mad at me so you're trying to excuse yourself. But you can be mad, you should be mad,"

"I'm not mad," He frowned.

"You look mad," Marinette shrugged.

Adrien opened his mouth, he frowned one more time, he closed his mouth, he rubbed his temples and then spoke, "Yes, now I'm mad because you are telling me that I am mad when I'm not. I really am worried about you because you are making decisions that could kill you. I know I accepted to do this, but I still have hope that you'll think this through and back off. I'm all for that option,"

"It's not happening," Marinette placed her hands on her hips, "I'm nervous about it but I'm not changing my mind. I know what it's at stake and I chose to do this anyways, and no one can change my mind,"

"You can still think about it. You flinched, I saw you, that's more than being nervous, you're scared and-

"No! We are doing this Adrien!" Marinette clashed her hands against his chest. "Listen to me, please just listen to me. I took this decision with a cold mind, this is not an impulse. I've done my research, I've had two days to think about it and I'm not changing my mind,"

She looked down, at their feet. She pressed her forehead against him and let the tears fall down.

"I never feel like me," Marinette whispered. "The only times I felt like a whole person was when I was around Nath. He knew me but not well enough, so he helped me become the person everyone told me I was and at the same time he tried to know me, not the Marinette he knew from school but the one he knew now, so, he allowed me to be whoever I wanted to be. It's one of the reasons why I loved him so much," Adrien's body was rigid so she hugged him tightly, trying to make him release the stress. "I just want to be me. I'm really sorry for being selfish, especially when you're involved, Adrien. But I am tired of trying to recollect pieces and build who I am supposed to be. I'm tired of not knowing if what I feel is real or it's just something I've programmed myself to feel to be what everyone says I am. I want to be me without doubting it,"

Marinette looked up, she cupped his cheek and softly pushed his head so he would look straight at her.

"Those are my selfish reasons, they are exactly the same reasons I told you two days ago but they more make sense now, right? That night I really wanted you to say yes so I also told you about my desires to be with you. They are real, I do want us to heal together, but that night I did not tell you that because I wanted you to know, I throw it in because I wanted to convince you, and it worked. But now, I'm being more straightforward. I want to have my memory back because of selfish reasons, if you don't want to do it that's okay, you can back down if you want, I'll ask Willem. I'm not dragging you with me if you don't actually want to,"

Adrien sighed. "I knew what you were doing, Marinette, I saw it in your eyes before you started speaking. The timing was horrible and I spent the last two days feeling horrible because I knew you had manipulated me, but at the end of the day, you never lied. That night I did say yes because of the tension of the moment, but today I'm saying yes because I can't let you do something stupid alone, I still want you to retreat, don't get me wrong, but we are a team, we do stupid things together, we put our lives at risk together and we trust each other's instincts and if you think this is the only choice, then I'll trust you,"

"So, let me get this straight. You still think this is a bad idea?"

"Yes,"

"But you're going to do it because we are a team?"

"Yes,"

"It doesn't make any sense, Adrien. Really, you can say no, I'm sorry I pushed you to say yes,"

"It doesn't have to make sense, we only have to do it, and I'm not letting you do this without me," Chat Noir took Marinette's hand between her gloved hand. "It's you and me until the day we die, and probably, even after then," He kissed her palm and closed his eyes, holding her closer.

"Forever has never sound sweeter," Marinette stood on the points of her toes and kissed his cheek. Then she remembered Willem and blushed, but when she looked around to find him, he wasn't there.

"He already left, Mari," Adrien giggled.

"Why are you guys doing here anyway? Did you come to tell me you could do it?"

"Yes," Adrien nodded, "And also we wanted to ask you a question,"

"What?"

"Is there a particular reason why you gave us two days to practice?"

"No, I only want to do this as fast as possible,"

"Oh, cool," Marinette rose a brow. He did not found this cool at all. "Then what about tonight?"

"Tonight? Why? Are you sure?"

"Nino and Wayzz said that if you didn't have any problems it would be better if we did this tonight, at two am to be exact,"

"I'm okay with it but why at that time? Is something happening?"

"It's the second day of the full moon, and at two am it's the exact half of the four days of this particular full moon. If we get you at the horrible state of almost death at that point of the night my powers will be stronger and more effective. We studied these things with Master Fu years ago, I forgot I knew about it until Nino mentioned it, but the moon not only affects the ocean, it affects the whole world and it gives strength to our stones too,"

"He did not tell me that. Why?"

"He said you were bossy and that I had more chances to convince you,"

Marinette laughed, "He is insane. C'mon, let's go find him I'll have and tell him I'm ready to do this tonight. After this is over I'll have a word or two with him. Also, tonight at two am, is still technically tomorrow,"

Adrien laughed, and it was a good sound to listen before making her way to her death sentence.

PART 2.

"This bathroom is bigger than my room," Alya said, "I did not remember it being this big,"

Marinette hugged her legs and pressed her cheek against her knees. She was sitting on the border of the big marble bathtub, it was cold and she was only wearing a black swimsuit, but she was trying to get accustomed to the cold before she jumped into a bathtub full of ice in a few minutes.

"Marinette, do you remember it being this big?" Alya asked. An innocent question, but it annoyed Marinette.

"I remember loving Adrien, not anything else," She huffed. "What are you still doing here, 'Lya? I thought you had to finish an article,"

"Only readproof," She corrected, one finger up, "and Charlene can do that, I trust her that much,"

"You're putting too much pressure on that girl," She loved Alya but she would never work under her wing, that sounded like a living nightmare.

"She is only two years younger than us, you know? And she has what it takes, and I'm pushing her towards the edge because I know she can take it. After me she will be ready for anything, I think she is going to be my rival actually,"

"And yet you're still training her," Marinette giggled.

"I'm not afraid of rivalry, and if she triumphs I'll be extremely proud. Talent is meant to be shared,"

"That's sweet of you,"

"You want me to go, don't you?" Alya laughed, but her face did not match with it.

"Don't get mad, but, yes? I'm nervous and I know every single one of you is nervous too. You mean the world to me, Alya, I can sense you're terrified of this going wrong, and that's the last thing I need,"

"Leaving won't change that, I'll be worried at home, you know that,"

"I know, but sometimes when you don't see things, you forget,"

"You'll have to forgive me later, I won't leave. If you don't want to see me I won't be inside the bathroom as you're in the bathtub, but I'm not leaving this house, and I'm not leaving this bathroom until I have to,"

Marinette looked at the clock Nino brought. The hands of the clock were about to strike 1 am.

"I think that's going to be now, babe," Marinette said, her breath caught on her throat.

"No," Alya pouted, but one look at the clock was enough. She stood up and wrapped Marinette on her arms.

Marinette hugged her back, she pressed her head against her neck and tightened the hug.

"Don't die, I forbid it," Alya whispered.

"I won't. Nino will be here and Adrien would never kill me,"

"It also depends on you, Mari," Alya cupped her cheeks, "When I found you in that dirty and odd building, you were wounded and there was so much blood around you, the whole room was splattered in red, every time I think about it it doesn't make sense that you are alive right now, but then I remember how stubborn you are, you held on to life and you did not let death drag you. I want you to do the same now, when you feel death approaching, you tell it that you're not going, that you need to come back, do you hear me?" Marinette giggled and then nodded, not long passed before she started sobbing.

"I love you," Marinette said cleaning her tears with the back of her hand.

"I love you too, Marinette," Alya moved Marinette's hand, and cleaned her tears with her thumbs. "Don't die, it's an order,"

"I won't, I promise," Marinette wrapped her arms around Alya and held her tight.

Alya did not hug her for long, she took a step backward, smiled at her one last time and left the bathroom.

Marinette sat back on the edge of the bathtub. She arranged the straps of her bathing suit and waited. She could feel Naomi's energy, the only creation energy that was strong enough for her to feel without a miraculous and started focusing on her breathe.

This was happening. She needed to stay calm.

The door opened only a second later after she felt Naomi's energy hit her.

Adrien entered first, then Nino and Willem and last but not least Naomi, all wearing their bright and beautiful costumes. But in Marinette's eyes, Naomi's was the winner.

It was mostly lilac like Willem had pointed out that evening, but it also had shades of green and it was iridescent when the light caught a right angle it glowed as if it had sparkles. Her mask did not look like one, it was as if it was painted on her skin in beautiful swirls. She had to antennas on top of her head, and the most amazing part of the whole costume was the four dragonfly wings. They were transparent but the lines of the shapes in them were glittery purple. Marinette looked for a weapon but there was nothing.

"It's on my back," Naomi said. Marinette jolted, she did not mean to be caught staring.

Naomi turned around, revealing a better angle to admire her wings and at the center a bow that tied them together. It was a strange sight, bugs did not have a bow holding their wings, it wasn't anatomically correct, but design wise, it was a beautiful detail.

"It's a whip, it has spheres at the end as you can see. It serves the same propose as your yo-yo,"

"Does it create objects too?" Marinette asked.

"Yes," Naomi nodded. She moved her hand to her back and pulled off the bow. It united swiftly, Naomi swirled her hand and the motion brought the whip to her front. The purple spheres glowed like neon lights while the whip spun. "We'll need it now,"

"For what?" Marinette smiled, excited.

"Don't look so happy, you're not going to like what I'm going to create. You're going to be on freezing water, it's not natural to stay inside, your body is going to ask you to escape, and you might answer. We need to contain you," Naomi's mouth sat in a hard line.

"Oh," She winced.

Adrien moved closer to her, he touched her lower back with his hand and ducked to be closer to her face. "It will help you to not fail accidentally, but in any case that you really back down and don't want to do this anymore, we thought it would be better to have a safe word,"

"A safe word? Like in sex?" Marinette asked, the last part wasn't meant to be said out loud, but her thoughts had been so fast that she did not get the chance to stop her mouth.

Adrien cackled. Marinette's face turned bright red.

"Yes, like in sex," Adrien said still between giggles, "But try not to choose one we could use later, okay?" That made her blush more, and Adrien, after realizing what he said, blushed too.

"You two stop flirting and choose a safe word, please? I really don't want to hear this," Nino interrupted. His hands were covering his ears.

"Yeah, yeah," Marinette nodded. "Something short, and easy to understand, right?"

"Yes, and it doesn't have to be anything that you could say because you're desperate, it has to be something you have to actually think about and has nothing to do with the situation,"

"Mm," Marinette chewed her lower lip, "What about 'cake'? I don't think it sounds like anything I would scream if things went south,"

"Cake," Naomi repeated, "Yeah, I think it's fine, we'll go with it,"

"Yes, it's a good word, now with that done, let's get down to business," Nino clapped his hands together and approached Marinette. "Ready for this, Nette?"

"As much as I can be," She answered, pulling a smile.

"So, let's start streaming that water," Nino opened the faucet of the bathtub, and the water started filling the tub. Faster than a normal faucet, thanks to Nino's water control.

"Let's go down the plan one more time," Naomi said while looking at her husband. He nodded at her and started talking.

"We'll start gradually, once the tub is filled near the top, we will turn its temperature to be at twenty degrees Celsius. Once ready, Marinette gets inside. We start then: every, ten minutes, approximately, -I think it could be less- we will lower the water's temperature by five degrees until we reach minus ten degrees Celsius. That's a dangerous temperature, people can last alive around ten minutes in those conditions," Willem explained, "That's a critical moment. Marinette will start to fall asleep if she manages to speak, she will make no sense, but our cue is her cardiac arrest, it's meant to happen and when it does, we must act fast," Marinette trembled. She knew the plan by heart now, but she was at minutes to execute it. She was nervous, she couldn't hide it. She glanced at Adrien, trying to read his body language, but he was keeping his body under control. He did not look worried, he did not look anxious and his face was in a perfect poker face.

She looked back at Willem who was still explaining their plan.

"Nino you need to be controlling Marinette's vital signs and the temperature of the water all the time if you need help don't hesitate and ask, we'll find a solution. When you feel that Marinette reaches the edge you scream: now. Loud and clear. That marks Adrien's start," Willem turned around to look at Chat Noir, "At the moment Nino screams, you act, immediately. There's no time to think, you only go for it. You'll have cataclysm ready when Marinette starts falling asleep so we don't miss any precious seconds, we can't risk anything. How the moment you'll be using cataclysm towards Marinette will go is unclear, a complete mystery. We don't know if Marinette's gonna react if Nooroo is going to attack back if she is going to stay the same. Anything could happen, so whatever goes down, we deal with it,"

Willem stayed in silence, he fixed his sight on Adrien who was awfully quiet.

"I'll be watching over you Adrien, I won't let you fail, I promise" Willem squeezed Adrien's shoulder. Marinette smiled at them. She was going to give the biggest hug to Willem after all of this was over, he was doing a spectacular job at taking care of Adrien. Better than anything Gabriel had ever done.

"Once Nooroo is out, Willem will take him, because he is the only one of us with destruction energy besides Adrien, but we don't know if Adrien's is going to have the energy necessary to keep Nooroo balanced. Gabriel won't be able to be here but he left behind instruments that will help Willem take care of little Nooroo," Naomi followed, "As I said, we don't know what's going to happen with you Adrien, you might be too tired, the energy could knock you out, cataclysm could take too much of you and you could faint. You're another blind point in this plan, so it will be my job and Nino's to bring Marinette back. We can't do it quickly or we'll kill her. I have it under control, I've Nino will slowly regulate the water temperature back up and I will create something to warm up Marinette when the time is right. This process will drain all your energy, darling, so feel free to take as much energy as you need, I won't' mind,"

"I don't think I'll be conscious enough to decide that," Marinette whispered.

"I know, but I'm telling you this so you don't feel wrong after. I'm staying by your side mostly for you to recharge, okay?"

"Okay," She nodded, "Thank you, Naomi,"

"We have two minutes," Nino announced, "Anything you want to say before jumping in the water, Nette?"

Marinette did not have to think much about it, there was only one thing she had been wanting to say the whole time. "Thank you, to all of you, this means the world to me,"

All of them but Adrien smiled back. He tried though, and she appreciated that.

He had the worst job in the whole plan. He said he managed to control cataclysm, but this would be the first time he would use it in a person, and they were in the dark about any consequence that it could unleash. It was okay if he didn't fake his feelings. He had the right to be nervous.

Marinette gave a big step and stood in front of him. She took his hands and separated them so he could stop fidgeting. She stood on the points of her toes and closed the distance between their faces. She brushed her nose against his, lips barely touching. As much as she wanted to kiss him, right now was not the right moment. However, she did not back away from him.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And I love you," He said back. The corners of his mouth turned up.

"I know I hated you and I was awfully mean to you at the beginning, but you're the best thing that has happened to me. You're the only thing that feels real, and nothing has felt real in the whole time I've been awake, you not only feel real, you make everything real, you make me real. When my love for you came back, I don't want it to sound like you're the only reason why I'm alive because that's not it, I promise I'm not obsessed, I just... felt like someone would finally understand me and we have been fighting and tangled in drama this whole time but once I'm back -because I'll be back- I hope my memories are back so I will be able to understand you too, because as much as I try, without any backstory it's impossible and I meant my promise, I want us to heal together, minou," They did not have much privacy with three other people in the bathroom, so she whispered very low trying to keep the moment as intimate as she could.

"We will," Adrien pressed their foreheads together, "Because every word you said, I feel it too," Adrien intertwined his hand with hers, he pulled it closer to his mouth and kissed her wrist. "Don't die on me, my lady,"

"I won't, mon minou," Marinette winked, to take the pressure and darkness out of the subject.

Adrien smiled with his whole face. He kissed her forehead and pointed the bathtub with a move of his chin.

"Well, let's do this," Marinette said. She looked at Nino, looking for confirmation that she could get in the bathtub.

"Go for it, M," Nino said. And Marinette did.

She sat on the edge of the tub and submerged her feet slowly until the water reached her knees. It wasn't cold, but it was not as warm as she liked her baths to be, and this water was about to get colder. Why was she doing this? Oh, right, her memory, Tikki, her life. She would not complain.

She figured that the fastest she went down completely, the easiest it would be. She took a big breath and with all her courage, she sat and immersed herself in the water.

She came back to the surface fast but stayed sit, she was already wet from head to toe, drops of water were running through her face and her hair was sticking to the back of her neck and shoulders.

"First step, check," Marinette said. She rubbed her eyes to see better. "What's next?"

"This," Naomi said. She took her whip one more time and twirled it. The purple spheres shone brighter and sparkles flew from them, slowly building an object in the air.

A harness dropped to the ground when the light stopped. Naomi took it and showed it to Marinette.

"Put this on, I'll tie it to the bathtub," She gave Marinette the harness. She inspected it before putting it on, trying to figure it out of what material it was done because it did not feel like anything she had touched before.

She couldn't figure it out, but it was heavy and extremely soft, she would ask Naomi later.

She put it on, and with help of Naomi, she tied it tight. With the help of more magic, Naomi created handcuffs and bands for her hands and ankles.

Naomi and Willem checked two times each, to make sure the restrains would work and she wouldn't be capable to involuntarily escape.

"Does it hurt?" Adrien asked. His eyes were fixed on her wrists, looking for red lines or any sign of discomfort.

"It's fine," Marinette said. Fine wasn't the word to describe it, she did feel uncomfortable but they did not hurt.

"We have to start now, are you ready?" Willem asked.

"Yes," She nodded with determination. This was it.

"Nino,"

"On it," Nino winked. "Everyone on their positions,"

"Yes," They answered.

"Yes," Marinette said, and closed her eyes, leaning backward so half of her head could touch the water.

"We start. Minus five degrees," Nino announced.

Marinette felt the change of temperature immediately, she flinched and closed her eyes with more strength than necessary so she started seeing stars and colors.

She tried to keep her respiration at a decent rhythm, she kept her eyes closed and imagined a nice and beautiful place, to not freak out before the hard part started.

She answered to Naomi's and Nino's questions, but she did not say much, if she said more than "yes" or "no" she was going to start rambling and she could spill how terrified she actually was and she couldn't do that, if she showed any extreme emotion Adrien could get overprotective or nervous and she couldn't afford that at this moment.

She heard Nino's second announcement, she also felt the decrease in temperature. She did not wait for them to ask her if she was okay, she said it and then she heard them whispering, not talking directly at her but trying to converse about things that could keep her at ease.

Nino announced he was going to lower the temperature one more time. She answered, and she was tempted to open her eyes and look at Adrien, but that would require to sit and she couldn't leave the water, her head had to be touching the water too.

Those ten minutes did not go as fast as the first ones had. She was actually trembling right now, and she had tried to flex her legs and leave the water for a few seconds but luckily, Naomi's harness and bands kept her on the bathtub, they were so strong that she couldn't move a millimeter.

Marinette started feeling anxious, and her mood turned worse when she heard that Nino dropped another five degrees.

She whimpered, she was frigid and they hadn't reached the ultimate temperature. She started trembling, her teeth were chattering and she started to breathe irregularly.

Take me out of here, take me out of here, please take me out of here, it's too cold.

She tried to bite her lip and stop the words from coming out of her mouth but her shivers wouldn't allow her. She only hoped they weren't thinking of backing up by seeing her at this state because it would only get worse.

She did not open her eyes if she did she was going to lose the little determination that was keeping her from giving up.

Her head and her chest started hurting. She was expecting the headache, only a secondary effect of the freezing water, but her chest was a surprise. It felt like someone was compressing her heart with a hand of steel. She felt the tears pricking her eyes, she pressed her eyes shut but then the pain was too unbearable and she cried out for help.

"Make it stop! Please, make it stop!" She rocked her body from side to side and shook her hands up and down to get the bands around her wrists off, "Please!"

"Stay calm, Marinette, you're strong enough, only a few more minutes," Naomi's voice sounded distant. If it wasn't for her loud energy she would have believed she left the bathroom.

"No, no, I can't, I, no, please, please, it hurts!"

Marinette kept moving and crying.

Adrien who had stayed far away from her, ignoring the situation so he wouldn't ruin it, turned around and swiftly approached to the bathtub.

"Marinette, try to-

"What hurts?" Adrien interrupted Naomi. He kneeled down and leaned next to the tub so she could hear his voice better.

"It hurts, kitty," Marinette sobbed, not answering the question.

Her body kept shaking from the cold and she was still agitated and trying to untie herself.

"Is this normal?" Adrien asked, looking for Naomi and Willem's. But before they could answer he turned to Nino "How are her vitals? Is she okay? Are these hallucinations? I read about it, she could have hallucinations, but I think for those we need lower temperatures. Could it had started before?"

"Her vitals are fine, all in order, but I can feel her experiencing pain, I don't know where is coming from, but I can tell you this is not a hallucination," Nino said, his hands were above Marinette, just closer than they had been the whole time, water was moving around her, glowing as Nino used his powers.

"Stop, stop! Let me out!" Marinette shouted.

Adrien felt his heart contract.

"Minus five degrees," Nino announced. He snapped his fingers, the water was glowing brighter and Marinette gasped loud.

"It's going to be okay, princess, we are almost there, you're doing great," Adrien said. It was for her comfort as well as his. She was strong, she could do this, he had to believe that she could do this.

"STOP! STOP NOW!"

"Guys," Nino's voice sounded like an alarm on Adrien's ears.

"What's wrong?"

"I sense Nooroo," He said.

"We were right," Adrien gasped. He had been scared that they were going to reach a loose end and that they would have been risking Marinette's life for nothing. But Nino sensed Nooroo, Nino whose job was to keep the miraculous safe, Nino's whose powers were stronger when it came to feel energies. Nino couldn't be wrong, but then why didn't he look relieved?

"What is it?" Willem asked.

"His energy is suppressing Marinette's, it feels just like when we found her on the rooftop as Ladybug,"

That was bad.

"Make the temperature lower," Naomi ordered.

"Naomi," Willem warned her, at the same time Adrien and Nino screamed. "What?!"

"That's dangerous!" Nino said.

"You're going to kill her!" Adrien stood up. His hands were in fists and he was clenching his teeth so hard they creaked.

"We need to knock her down. Fast. We don't know what is going to happen if she turns into Ladybug again or if Nooroo takes over. We are trying to take him out and if we take him out while Marinette is transformed the consequences could be worse,"

"But-" Adrien was about to say but his best friend interrupted him.

"I'm doing it," Nino didn't hesitate. Adrien looked at him with eyes wide open, "It is still the plan, I won't let her die, Adrien, I promise,"

"But what if-" This time he was interrupted for another one of Marinette's cries for help.

"STOP IT! PLEASE!" Marinette opened her eyes. They were trembling too, they made her look insane, but the worst part was that they were purple.

Adrien knew there was no other option.

"Do it," He ordered Nino.

He went around the tub and found the perfect spot beside it. This was going to go down fast, he needed to be ready.

"Cataclysm," He whispered.

The warm rush of energy ran through his veins, from his heart to his arm. It was as overwhelming as it had been the first months after getting the miraculous. He felt the dark energy tickling his fingers, ready to attack at any given moment.

Marinette kept screaming, but Adrien ignored her if he concentrated on her words he was going to take her out of the water, and that's not what she wanted. She was losing her mind, but there was a part of her that was still holding on to the plan, she hadn't said her safe word yet. She was suffering but she still wanted to do this, and he was not going to leave her now.

And they didn't last long, Nino's fast change of coldness in the water made Marinette scream louder and shake harder than she had before, but after one minute her screams started to die down. Her eyes were still purple but they were not glowing like neon lights anymore, and she had completely stopped trembling.

It was about time. He wanted this to be over, it had been the longest fifty minutes of his life.

Marinette started babbling and her eyes were droopy. Adrien put one foot in the bathtub, at one side of Marinette's body, then the other to her right side. He looked at Nino, waiting for his orders.

"Any minute now," Nino whispered. Adrien nodded.

"We're doing this, princess. Is about to be over, you'll be okay soon," He said to her even if he knew she couldn't hear him.

Marinette's chest went up and down at an alarmingly slow rhythm, her mouth hanging open and her eyes were finally closed.

He did not need Nino's call to know it was time, but he waited to hear his shout anyways.

"NOW!"

Adrien didn't think, he didn't hesitate, he went for it.

Just like in training he opened his hand, separated his fingers as far as he could and in a fast movement he attacked. He perforated Marinette's skin like a bunch of arrows, right in the middle of her collarbones, almost touching the base of her throat.

Adrien kept his eyes on Marinette's face if he watched down at his fingers through Marinette's chest he was not going to be able to control his power. He needed to look at her, the woman he loved, his partner, his best friend, his everything. The one who asked him to save her, the girl he had promised to protect until the end of his days. He loved her so much, he was not going to be the one to kill her.

He looked at her and he thought on the energy that was running through his body and reaching Marinette, he imagined the energy as black liquid that ran through his fingers, he imagined it dripping and coagulating in a big mass that was going to stay in the place under the scar, not going anywhere else but the creative energy that he was starting to feel. Not going near her lungs, near her heart or an artery, it was going to stay there where Nooroo was and only touch it because he wasn't going to kill Marinette.

It had only been seconds after his attack when Marinette opened her eyes. The purple glow was back and so was her strength. She tried to sit up but she was unable to. Adrien had been surprised but thanks to whatever powerful force that was taking care of him he did not move.

Adrien started to feel warm, a hot wave of air hit him, it was suffocating. It felt like being in a sauna, but he couldn't tell from where it was coming for. As startling as it was he did not move.

I won't kill you, princess.

The frozen water did not feel cold anymore, he looked down and saw the bubbles popping all around. The water was boiling. What was going on?

Adrien was about to speak. He was confused that no one was saying anything when he realized he was not in the bathroom anymore. Marinette was still in front of him, they were still in the tub, his hands were still piercing between her collarbones, but all around him was black.

Marinette looked like a maniac, her eyes were crying tears of blood and her mouth was dripping a strange black substance.

Adrien knew this wasn't real, this was a trick, it had to be. Nooroo had to be defending himself and if he didn't do something he was going to forget what was real and what was not and he was going to lose Marinette.

He had not wanted to do this, he had only used this power twice and he did not have the best memories of it, it was too difficult to control and Ladybug had warned him to only use it as a last resource.

If cataclysm was not being effective to pull Nooroo out of his partner then he was going to have to use his last resource, if not he was going to get trapped in the illusion and he would fail Marinette.

"I won't kill you, my lady," He said, reassuring himself. Willem had said it, he loved her and his love was not going to allow him to fuck up.

"Catastrophe," He whispered.

The energy was ten times what cataclysm was. He felt high on the rush very quickly but the logical part of his mind was still predominant. He guided the energy and unleashed it straight to his claws.

He heard Marinette scream, then he saw her faint.

He looked at his hands, worried that he had made a mistake. Around his fingers, a glowing circle of purple light was appearing. Marinette's body started shaking and he did too.

Next thing he knew he was flying to the other side of the bathroom. Crashing against the wall as if he had just been hit by a bus.

The last thing he saw was a glowing sphere floating in the middle of the room and the shadow of a pair of wings on the wall.

The last thing he heard was Nino's words.

"You did it!"