Chapter 7
Everything had seemed like it was going perfectly for the villains. Ladybug said she was going to use a disco ball, but Kitsune just sliced it in half; however it was strange that perfume poured out of it, covering her. A pile of rubble had fallen on "Cat Noir". Ladybug had "detransformed" and Hawk Moth was holding the "Ladybug Miraculous". Yet, Marinette spoke one word with such confidence.
"Venom.
Mayura recognized the relevance of that word; that's what made it so confusing. She turned her head to Marinette, but she had no time to defend herself. Marinette hit Mayura with a bee-stinger, paralyzing her. Mayura couldn't move, but Marinette could still see the terror in her eyes as she put her hand on her miraculous. Marinette shouted, "Gotcha!" and ripped the Peacock Miraculous off Mayura's head. As Mayura detransformed, Hawk Moth shouted, "What?! No! Grab her!"
Kitsune tried to grab her, but Marinette jumped high, as if she was still transformed and swung to a walkway with her yoyo. But was it actually a yoyo?
"You know what I love most about you villains?" Marinette asked. "You people fall for everything. You even fall for it multiple times."
"This is impossible! Mayura took the Ladybug Miraculous off your ears!" Hawk Moth shouted.
"You still haven't figured it out? I wasn't even using the Ladybug Miraculous." Marinette called out, "Okay, Kitty! You can drop the act now!"
They all heard a voice from another room shout, "Reality!" and the illusion over Marinette dropped. She had been using the Bee Miraculous.
Hawk Moth reexamined the earrings. "A fake!? AGAIN!?" Hawk Moth's mind had to catch up with the truth. Marinette was able to get away with using the Bee Miraculous instead of the Ladybug Miraculous because the bee-top functions almost entirely like the ladybug-yoyo.
The voice from the other room said, "Trix, let's rest. . . . Plagg, claws out!" Only a second later, Cat Noir, the real Cat Noir kicked a door open, joined Marinette, and said, "Tada!"
Hawk Moth realized that this whole time, Cat Noir didn't even try to touch them, and they couldn't manage to touch him. The only thing that got crushed under that rubble was another of their illusions. Marinette took off the Bee Miraculous and replaced it with the Peacock Miraculous.
"Kill them, NOW!" Hawk Moth shouted to Silence.
"Duusu, spread my feathers."
Silence rushed towards them, AND THEN . . . "STOP!" Silence stopped right in front of the walkway's banister. Control over the Peacock Miraculous came with control over the sentimonster. Silence knew she could make it disappear if she wanted. Marinette pointed at Kitsune, prompting Silence to look at her with hunger in his eyes. Kitsune wasn't scared yet. She created the illusion of dozens upon dozens of herself to confuse Silence.
Cat Noir said with satirically fake despair, "Muh Lady! However will Silence find the real Kitsune in this sea of illusion?!"
Playing along with his game, Marinette said as if he didn't know, "Elementary, my dear Kitty. All he has to do is use his keen sense of smell to find the one I covered in perfume." And then Kitsune was scared.
"Sick her," Marinette said.
Kitsune screamed right before she started running and Silence chased after her.
Hawk Moth was devastated. He thought he had it this time. He thought this was the day he would claim the miraculouses. He knew Ladybug's identity, he had them outnumbered; four to two, he had a sentimonster who's amuk was out of reach, but Ladybug and Cat Noir turned the whole day upside down. Even the fact that he knew Ladybug's identity was just something she could use to make her act more convincing. Mayura was paralyzed, he lost the Peacock Miraculous, and Silence was on their side.
Marinette put on a pair of earrings; the real Ladybug Miraculous and said, "Tikki, Dussu, unify." Once she transformed, she was wearing a dark blue coat with red spots and black tights with dark blue spots. Her red skin was decorated with dark blue lipstick and eyeshadow. In one hand she held the fan and in the other, she held the yoyo.
"I will still have your miraculouses!" Hawk Moth said. "You two couldn't defeat me alone before and you won't now."
"We don't have to beat you alone. We just have to keep you busy until Silence is done chewing up Kitsune," Cat Noir said.
The two heroes jumped from the walkway and Cat Noir rushed towards him. Cat Noir and Hawk Moth clashed their weapons against each other multiple times. Hawk Moth raised his cane, preparing to strike downward. Cat Noir's response felt incorrect at first. Instead of dodging to the side, Cat Noir ducked. It didn't make sense until Ladybug's yoyo came flying into Hawk Moth's cane, ending his attempt at an attack and leaving him vulnerable to an uppercut from Cat Noir. Hawk Moth was staggered. Cat noir anchored his staff in the floor and raised his wrist so that Ladybug could wrap her yoyo around it. Cat Noir pulled on the yoyo string and, soon, Ladybug came zipping over Cat Noir before she kicked Hawk Moth in the chest. Hawk Moth slid backwards, but stayed on his feet. Ladybug swung her yoyo at Hawk Moth from a distance. Hawk Moth deflected each attack with his cane. Hawk Moth held his cane like a baseball bat and when the yoyo came once again, he hit it, sending it into Ladybug's head. Cat Noir leapt towards him. Cat Noir attacked with his staff only for Hawk Moth to knock it to the side and head butt him. Hawk Moth knocked Cat Noir's legs out from under him, and while Cat Noir spun in midair, Hawk Moth kicked him so hard he crashed into Ladybug.
Hawk Moth fought well despite being on his own against two heroes. He brute forced his way through their defenses and withstood whatever onslaught they threw at him. All the while, Silence crashed around the school, trying to bite Kitsune.
Ladybug figured this was the time for an extra edge on the battlefield, so she summoned a, "Lucky Charm!" What fell into her hands was, "A heart shaped love letter?" Ladybug opened it and tried to read it quickly so Cat Noir wouldn't have to fight Hawk Moth alone for long. "In every day, in every way, you ring my heart like a bell. Anything you'd do for me, I'd do for you as well." That was all that was written. It was hard to see how such a short and vague letter would be helpful. She put the letter away and planned to figure it out later.
Ladybug attacked Hawk Moth from one side while Cat Noir attacked from the other. Hawk Moth tried fighting them both at once, but he couldn't deflect everything. He decided to concentrate on attacking Cat Noir and baring whatever Ladybug hit him with. Hawk Moth beat Cat Noir viciously. Ladybug kept hitting him from behind, trying to stop him, but he endured and continued beating Cat Noir. Hawk Moth pulled back his left fist preparing to strike Cat Noir again. Ladybug grabbed Hawk Moth's forearm, put her foot against the other part of his arm, and used all her strength, resulting in a crunchy sounding snap. Hawk Moth shouted with agony until he contained his noises in grunts and growls that slipped between his teeth. Hawk Moth smacked Cat Noir away and began punishing Ladybug. He beat her with the cane he swung with insanity and desperation while shouting, "I! WILL! NOT! BE! DENIED! YOUR! MIRACULOUS!" He smacked her away as well and ran to one of the bars that held up the walkways. He ripped a piece of it off, crafting a makeshift spear. He turned his sights on Cat Noir who was only halfway to his feet and prepared to throw it into his head.
Then, Ladybug figured it out. The love letter's words rang in her mind with more clarity; "Anything you'd do for me, I'd do for you as well." Cat Noir had shielded her from dangers, time and time again. She knew what she had to do.
Hawk Moth threw the makeshift spear at Cat Noir's head, but it stabbed into Ladybug's stomach instead. Cat Noir stared at her with unbelieving eyes. He shouted, "LADYBUG!"
Ladybug turned to face Cat Noir. "You can take him." And then she collapsed, weak but still awake.
Cat Noir's heartbeat was a storm of thunder. She really did want to treat him better. She had annihilated all his reasons to be angry at her and he was reminded of his reasons for loving her. She was strong, smart, caring, steadfast in her commitment to the greater good. All the love he thought was gone forever came back. The truth was that his love never died; it had simply gone missing. This onslaught of emotion included shame. He thought, "Of course she's the love of my life. How could I have doubted that?"
Silence bit Kitsune's head and flung her into the air. Kitsune screamed all the way down into Silence's throat. A second later, Silence coughed out Lila and the akuma separately. Despite the spear in her stomach, Ladybug flung her yoyo from the floor and purified the akuma.
Cat Noir could do this. With Kitsune gone, Silence was there to help him, and Hawk Moth's arm was already broken.
Cat Noir stood and gazed at his enemy with determination in his eyes. He said, "Silence," and at the sound of its name, the giant snake turned invisible. Cat Noir ran at Hawk Moth and swung from the left with his staff. After Hawk Moth blocked, Cat noir punched Hawk Moth's already broken arm, agonizing him. Cat Noir hit him with his staff a couple times before jumping out of the way and then Silence rammed into Hawk Moth.
Cat Noir ran at him again. Hawk Moth threw his cane toward him which just zipped past his head. Hawk Moth reached out his hand as Cat Noir kept running. He was summoning the cane to fly back to him, causing it to strike Cat Noir in the back of the head. By the time he was within arm's length of Hawk Moth, he was staggered and his head was lowered. Hawk Moth uppercut Cat Noir sending him just above Hawk Moth's height. Hawk Moth grabbed Cat Noir's leg and slammed him down. Silence was approaching, but Hawk Moth saw him coming this time. He picked up Cat Noir and held him in Silence's path while he stepped to the side, making Silence ram into him instead. Silence raised his tail and swung it down, but Hawk Moth dodged that too. Hawk Moth jumped onto Silence's tail and ran all the way to his head where he jammed his cane deep into Silence's eye. Silence started disintegrating, but he also started thrashing his head about. Hawk Moth was flung into the air. From a higher altitude, Hawk Moth watched Silence die. He was half way down, when all of a sudden, Cat Noir came flying towards him. Cat Noir grabbed Hawk Moth by the gut with his right hand. He shouted, "CATACLYSM!" And Hawk Moth felt the combined force of the cataclysm and the hard landing. The floor beneath them looked shattered. The earth was shaken as a glorious shockwave spread in all directions.
Do you know the difference between finishing a video game and completing it?
Cat Noir rose above Hawk Moth, satisfied with his victory. Hawk Moth groaned, refusing to accept the fact that he lost. Ladybug threw the love letter into the air and said, "Miraculous Ladybug." All the damage done to the school, the fashion show's building, and the heroes was erased. Ladybug stood up, feeling much better.
Finishing a video game is when you get to the end of the story, beat the final boss if there is one, and make the credits roll. But completing a video game means passing all the challenges, beating all the secret bosses, accomplishing all the side missions, and leaving nothing undone.
Cat Noir reach down and grabbed the Butterfly Miraculous. Hawk Moth jolted and grabbed Cat Noir's wrist, not letting him take it. He squeezed Cat Noir's wrist until he let go. Then, Hawk Moth shoved Cat Noir aside. He had no hope of beating Cat Noir in his current state, but he had one last card up his sleeve.
Sure, the story could end here with our villain defeated and our heroes in love. It would be finished. But it wouldn't be complete. There's so much more to do. Will you come and complete this story with me?
Hawk Moth quickly pulled a detonator out of his coat and pressed the button.
BOOM! An explosion erupted from one of the class rooms. They all felt and heard another explosion erupt from somewhere below.
Cat Noir thought, "He rigged the school with explosives? Where they there this whole time?"
Using the explosions as a distraction, Hawk Moth ran to Natalie, grabbed her and jumped away. Ladybug shouted to Cat Noir, "We've got to get out of here!" Ladybug didn't want to, but she picked up Lila first and they made their exit as more explosions stormed around them. They got to a safe distance and Ladybug put Lila down. They got to another building's roof and watched as their school burned and crumbled. They agreed that chasing Hawk Moth could wait until Tikki and Plagg recharged. They were sure that they knew where he was going.
They both detransformed and Adrien said, "I can't believe he did that."
"Don't worry. When we defeat him, we can use another Miraculous Ladybug to fix the school," Marinette said. Adrien knew that already. She was missing the point.
"I can't believe my father did that. When did he set that up? Was it as soon as I enrolled?" Adrien said.
"He probably did it after he figured out I was Ladybug." She wasn't trying to defend Gabriel. She was just stating what seemed logical.
"Still. That monster planted bombs in a school. And he did it knowing his own son attended it."
Marinette had no idea what to say that could make the situation better. She had told him before that she would be there for him through his pain and this was a moment in which she had to prove it. She didn't know how to make him feel better about what his father was doing, but she had something that might just make him feel better. Marinette put a hand on his shoulder. "Adrien, I'm so proud of you."
Adrien turned his head toward her, wanting desperately for her to keep talking.
Marinette explained, "I can't imagine how hard it was for you to fight him. You didn't let the fact that he's your father keep you from doing the right thing. If I found out my dad was Hawk Moth, I would barely be able to stand, much less take him down the way you just did."
"It's been way too long since anyone's told me they were proud of me. Yes, it was hard, but you keep making this easier. Thank you." Adrien took a moment to gather himself before saying, "Marinette, when Hawk Moth threw that sharp rod at me, you stepped in front of me and took it so I wouldn't have to."
"It was the least I could do. You've done the same for me so many times."
"That's why it meant so much to me. When I was angry with you, I thought our relationship was one sided."
Marinette's face turned sad. "Adrien, it was one sided. You don't have to say that's just what you 'thought'."
"But now, I know it isn't. When you told me you were sorry, I wanted so badly to believe you, but I couldn't help but have a small sliver of doubt in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure if I was setting myself up to be hurt again. Actions speak louder than words. Once I saw you stand there, bleeding and hurting to keep me safe, I knew you meant what you said. I don't have doubts about us anymore."
Marinette was in a combination of excitement and nervousness. "Adrien?" She was trying to ask if this meant what she was hoping for.
They looked deep into each other's eyes. Adrien knew. This was the girl. The girl who fought by his side, saved his life many times, inspired him to be a better hero was also the girl who beat him at video games, was adorably frantic whenever she couldn't shut up, inspired him to be a better person. This was the girl.
Marinette knew. This was the boy. The boy who always complemented everything she did, was so smooth he made her slip on any surface, could be best described as a prince, was also the boy who constantly tried to impress her, would follow her anywhere, treated her like a princess. This was the boy.
Adrien said, "I thought it was gone. I thought I'd never love anyone the way I loved you before. But now . . . knowing that you're the girl of my dreams and my best friend . . ." Adrien brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. "I love you now more than ever."
Marinette whispered with tears in her eyes, "Kiss me."
The fingers Adrien held on her cheeks slid further back and dug into her hair. His other arm wrapped around her waist and he looked her in the eyes just a little longer before going in. Marinette melted when their lips touched and pressed together. At first, she didn't do anything with her hands. She was too busy trying to believe what was happening to her. This was better than her fantasies. She was kissing him with her combined love for Adrien and Cat Noir. It became easier to believe the more Adrien twisted his lips against hers. She slid her hands up his chest and grabbed his shirt collar so she could pull him deeper into their kiss.
When it was over, Adrien and Marinette locked eyes as soon as they were open. Adrien said dreamily, "I should have known it was you."
Suddenly Adrien's phone started ringing. They both had one guess who it could be.
Adrien looked at the Caller ID. "It's him."
"He might tell us something useful. Just try to act normal and don't let him know I'm listening."
Adrien answered the phone and said, trying not to show his anger, "Hello, Father."
Gabriel kept grunting in pain and struggled to say each sentence. "Adrien, I know this is . . . sudden. But I'm going away for a little while."
Adrien looked at Marinette, both thinking the same reason why he was leaving. "Why? What's going on?" Adrien asked, pretending he didn't know.
"It's . . . a personal matter. No need for you to concern yourself with it."
"I might need to know where you are. Where are you going?"
"I'm sorry, Adrien, but I can't divulge that information," Gabriel insisted.
Marinette signaled for him to keep going.
"You're scaring me, Father. I really need to know where you are."
"All you need to know is that I'm someplace safe. While I'm gone, Gorilla will stay at the mansion."
Adrien asked, passive aggressively, "Are you sure he will be? You also said he would pick me up earlier today."
Marinette shook her head at Adrien. She was afraid his new attitude toward his father would give them away.
"That communication error will not happen again. Gorilla will be at the mansion, as instructed," Gabriel said.
"If you say so, Father." Marinette whispered something in his ear and Adrien said, "I heard there was an akuma attack at the fashion show. Are you alright? What happened to Marinette and Alya?"
"Alya wasn't there due to my miscommunication with Gorilla. As for Marinette; I think it would be best for you to avoid her."
Adrien brows furrowed. He said with fake worry, "Why is that?"
"I have a sinking feeling . . . that Ms. Dupain-Chang is conspiring with Hawk Moth."
Adrien stared daggers at the phone, looking like he was about to erupt with anger and trying to resist the urge to yell at him. Marinette signaled for him to take a deep breath and release it. After doing as she advised, Adrien said, "Are you sure? That doesn't sound like Marinette."
"I insist that you not speak to her! I have to go now. I will see you again later." And then he hung up.
"Did you hear that?" Adrien asked Marinette. "He actually tried to blame you for what he's done! What else has he lied to me about? What's the real reason he didn't want me to have friends when I was young? What else has he been doing while he's alone? What really happened to my mother?"
"We'll get all the answers when we find him," Marinette said.
"The problem is we don't know where he ran off to."
"I assumed he'd go back to the mansion, but it sounds like he knows that I know who he is. We won't find him there."
Adrien added, "And he won't find you there either."
"Huh?"
"Hawk Moth knows who you are. Right now, the safest place for you to be is in his own house; the last place he'd think to look."
"Are there any security cameras in the mansion?"
"None that I don't know how to reprogram to play the same footage over and over again."
"Then that's a great idea."
"But how are we going to convince your parents to stay there?" Adrien asked.
Marinette clutched her head and freaked out. "HOLY DUMPSTER FIRE! My parents! I didn't even think of them! They're targets now! Hawk Moth might have gotten to them by now! What in the world are we going to tell them?!"
"Marinette. I think we should tell the truth."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" said Tikki at wit's end. "Enough people know your identity as it is!"
Adrien said, "Come on, Tikki. What's the worst thing they could do? Tell Hawk Moth who she is as if he doesn't know already?"
Plagg told Adrien, "The worst thing they could do is tell Hawk Moth who you are. Remember, he still doesn't know your identity."
Marinette said, "And that's one advantage we need. It would be easy for Hawk Moth to akumatize one of them with all the worrying they'd be doing, knowing about the current situation. And once Hawk Moth akumatizes them and starts wondering why they're in his house, we're finished."
Adrien nodded his head understandingly. "So what do we tell them?"
"It was so generous of Gabriel to let us stay in his fancy mansion while our house is being fumigated at his expense. Isn't it, Darling?" said Tom as he walked through the front door with a suitcase in each hand.
"I just hope they'll be careful with the bakery supplies," Sabine replied.
"Trust me. Everything will be exactly how we left it," Marinette said.
"It will be like the whole thing never happened," Adrien added.
After everyone got settled in, Adrien and Marinette sat down on the couch in Adrien's room. At this point, they were exhausted. Marinette asked, "So how did you get rid of Gorilla?"
"I told him he could have a paid week off as long as he doesn't tell Father about it." Adrien grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
"Don't be bemused. It's just the news."
Marinette's eyes were getting heavy. Involuntarily, she leaned her head back into the couch cushion.
Françoise Dupont has unfortunately burned to the ground. Crime fighting duo, Ladybug and Cat Noir have made a statement first publicized on the Ladyblog, saying that they are unable to repair the damages yet, but they will be able to after defeating Hawk Moth. They also shared a bit of good news. Apparently, Ladybug and Cat Noir have taken supervillain, Mayura's miraculous away from her and she will no longer be able to create sentimonsters using it.
Adrien said, "With everything going on, I almost forgot how good that news is. We've made some real progress, and we should remember . . ." Adrien felt something on his shoulder. He found that Marinette had fallen asleep and her head was resting peacefully on his shoulder. Adrien smiled at her, turned off the TV, relaxed, and closed his eyes.
Author's Note: Our couple has gotten together, but we are still far from the end. There's still drama to be had. We're only about half way through the story. Don't forget to read my other fanfiction, Disney Princesses: Extermination.
Thank you for reading and I hope you come back for more of my work.
(This next part was added in later.)
I have a YouTube Channel now. I review fictional couples, talking about how well their written, how good their chemistry is and the story of how they get together. My first video is –
Spider Man and MJ (Homecoming and Far From Home) - Couple Reviews by MVPKnight
My second video is –
Cortana and Master Chief – Couple Reviews by MVPKnight
My third video is –
Spider-Man and MJ (2002) – Couple Reviews by MVPKnight
And my fourth video is –
Spider-Man and . . . EVERYONE (Spectacular Spider-Man) – Couple Reviews by MVPKnight
I would provide a link, but that's actually against the terms of service here.
My channel title is the same as my penname here, so you might be able to find me by typing it into the search engine.