Clarion

Chapter 5 - Regret

'Ladybug!" Chat Noir yells, hot on her tail.

Clutching her head tightly, Alya falls into Ladybug's arms. "...Lady...bug."

Running as fast as he can, Nino makes his way to where Alya has passed out. Ladybug is there waiting, cradling her.

"Will she be okay?" He asks, breathlessly.

Heaving a sigh, Ladybug nodes.

"Alya will be fine. She will be speaking from her heart for a while. Keep her safe."

Taking Alya from Ladybug, Nino gives a weak smile.

"Thanks Dudette."

Ladybug gets to her feet.

"I better get back to it. Please, the both of you, find cover."

Nino nodes, scooping Alya up in his arms and making a beeline towards some overturned cars, taking shelter.

"Mmm.. My hero." Alya slurres, looking at Nino with dreamy eyes.

"Hey babe."

"You're so strong." Alya compliments.

Resting Alya on the ground, Nino sits next to her, making sure they are both out of sight.

"Are you feeling better?"

Giving a seductive smile, Alya shifts closer.

"Much better, now that I'm with you." She winks. Nino smiles.

"You know… You look hot in that get-up."

"Th-anks?" Nino stammers. "You look great too."

Alya grins.

"You know." She says, tracing a finger up Nino's inner thigh. "I've been thinking. What if we go back to that cage where it all started and have some much needed alone time."

Nino's glasses steam up.

"Maybe I'll get my Miraculous and make things even more fun! I bet you'd enjoy watching a few more of me?"

Jumping over a brick wall with ease, Chat Noir makes his way back to Ladybug's side.

"You think the Akuma is where?" He asks, matching her running pace.

"Her wedding ring. It glows when she is about to use it." Ladybug answers, dodging an attack.

Chat Noir nods.

"Perhaps she has been betrayed by someone? It would explain the whole confession thing."

Ladybug hums to herself, thinking of what to do next, then lets out an exacerbated groan.

"I can't concentrate on a plan while I'm being shot at!"

Skidding to a halt, Chat Noir wraps an arm around Ladybug's waist, pulling her in.

"Chat what are you-?"

"Hold on tight M'Lady '' Chat Noir instructs his partner, taking a hold of his staff and propelling them both into the sky.

"Chat?!" Ladybug gasps, gripping tightly onto him.

Looking down, Ladybug's eyes grow wide as she sees two beams of light shooting right under them, barely skimming by. The pair stumble on Chats' baton, but regain their composure before landing gracefully on the ground. Feeling her feet touch solid ground again, Ladybug pushes herself away from Chat Noir, putting a little space between them.

"Thanks, Chat." She says, averting her eyes from Chat and focusing them square on Clarion.

Facing their foe, Ladybug and Chat Noir prepare themselves for battle. Clarion looks scorned.

"Why don't you two want to express yourselves a little? Maybe you can share a few problems with me and Hawkmoth?"

"No, I don't think so. But I will share my…" Ladybug throws her yo-yo into the air.

"Lucky Charm!" A small hand mirror with a gilded handle falls from the sky.

"What are you going to do with that M'lady?" Chat asks . Ladybug looks at her own reflection in the mirror.

"I think this one answers itself".

Clarion takes aim at Ladybug. As she fires, Ladybug deftly deflects the incoming beam and it fires back at Clarion. The villain is struck in the chest.

"Do you really think that will work?!" exclaims Clarion. "After all I've been through?!"

"Is there something you need to tell us Clarion?" Ladybug asks.

"Why should I tell you my husband has been keeping secrets from me? Avoiding me? Late nights? He won't even tell me how he feels anymore!"

Chat Noir finally caught on that Clarion was under her own spell. Muttering under his breath, he walks slowly toward the supervillain and, with a single touch of his finger, he shatters the gemstone on the wedding ring into tiny pieces with his cataclysm. A purple butterfly flies out from the small opening.

"Gotcha!" Ladybug catches the Akuma and releases a harmless butterfly. Clarion de-transforms into Marlena Césaire!

"Miraculous Ladybug!" A flurry of ladybugs race across the city, curing the citizens of their curse.

"Where am I?!" Marlena exclaims.

Meanwhile, Alya and Nino are holding each other as they walk through the zoo. Nino knew Alya would get her way eventually, and after leaving their cover spot, had gently guided her around to keep her safe during the attack. They almost make it to the animal cage when a swarm of ladybugs sweeps around her.

"Are you ok?" Nino asks as the last of the small ladybugs flies away.

"I'm ok. Where's Ladybug?" The couple run toward a commotion in the distance.

Otis, Alya's father, joins his wife after the battle. Marlena was still visibly upset with him.

"I was akumatized! This has gone on long enough! Please, tell me what you've been up to?!" Marlena pleads.

Otis, looking defeated, began his confession. "I wanted to surprise you for our anniversary. I'm not good with secrets, they get out eventually. So I've been working a little more to avoid telling you what I was really planning. I'm sorry".

Marlena's expression calms down. "I'm sorry too," she says. "I thought it was something else…"

Ladybug and Chat Noir step away. This was too personal for them. As Alya and Nino join the reconciled couple, Ladybug looks to Chat.

"Your girlfriend. You should go to her".

Chat Noir looks down at his feet. "I can't".

"Why not? You're happy with her right?" Ladybug's face became filled with concern.

"I am… but it isn't right. She's in love with someone else, and I'm a superhero. It's too dangerous." Chat Noir looks at his hand as his ring beeps.

Ladybug looks down from his face to his chest. "You might be right."

Chat Noir extends his pole and flies to the nearest rooftop. Ladybug looks dejected, but quickly comes to as her earrings begin to beep more frequently. She throws her yo-yo and takes off into the distance.