Chapter Thirty-Five
Nino stared at Fu. "The– the avatar that you created?!"
"That... that is a long story," Fu said, lowering his head, looking pale, and Roaar watched him in worry. "One that we do not have time for. Come."
He turned, heading deeper into the shop, and Nino was right on his heels, mind racing. So many questions in his mind, but no time to answer them. This Guardian was moving swiftly, yet his whole form was shaking– the calmness in his voice clearly a facade. He approached a phonograph that sat on the table, his fingers running along two carved dragons on the side.
Nino didn't have time to see what he was doing, hands moving quickly, and the phonograph tilted back, revealing a hidden container within. Fu pulled out a box from inside, one that looked just like the small case that Trixx's and Wayzz's Miraculouses had come in. It wasn't hard to guess that this held all the other Miraculouses, the man clutching it tightly to his chest– unmoving.
"Sir?" Nino said after a moment.
"Master, we need to move now," Roaar said, zipping in front of him. "If the avatar is truly here in Paris... we don't have time to waste!"
"Why did you even create an avatar like that?" Nino asked as Fu stumbled forward to grab a bag hanging on the wall, slipping the Miracle Box inside of the bag, which he slung over his shoulder. "What– what were you even trying to accomplish? That thing went straight for Mellifera the moment it was awoken– Blue said it was going to eat anything in its path!"
"We do not have time for stories," Fu snapped. "And believe me, I have quite a few questions I'd like to ask you myself, Silver Paw– but right now I have two young girls who might be found and destroyed by a monster I created or have their identities revealed to one of the most dangerous people in Paris because of my own foolish actions!"
"We need to destroy the avatar," Roaar said, zipping back and forth. "We can't let it go dormant again, or roam."
"Blue said he can't destroy the amok," Nino said, following after the Guardian as he moved down a hall. "He can sense it, but he can't reach it."
"The amok is in a staff I was given as a child," Fu replied. "He can't destroy the amok because it currently isn't in our plane of reality– it was devoured by Feast, who can manipulate space within him." He closed his eyes. "Oh Roaar– what am I to do?"
"What does that mean?!" Nino asked desperately.
The man paused, and was even paler than before– eyes distant. The kwami hesitated, before zipping in front of Nino. "To put it simply, Feast has a pocket dimension within it, the mouth is like a portal– there's no limit to what it can eat. Until the staff passes back into our reality the amok is out of reach, both to the Peacock or anyone."
"What's wrong with him?" Nino jerked his head towards the Guardian.
Roaar's ears went back. "Feast... Feast was a creature he didn't mean to create. It tapped into Emotions he never meant to bring to life. This avatar is the being of his nightmares, the very thing that destroyed his mentors. It's... it's a sensitive subject."
They all jumped at the sound of a distant roar.
"We don't have time for this," Nino muttered, scanning the Guardian– and he reached for Fu's hand, the panja bracelet resting on his wrist being the one thing on his person that stood out. It shifted as it was in Nino's grasp, confirming that it was indeed a Miraculous– and the man barely flinched as his Miraculous was taken. "What's your transformation phrase, we need to get out of here now."
"...It's 'paint my stripes'," Roaar said after the slightest hesitation, but it was clear her holder was not fully there, and not in the state to transform himself.
"Roaar, paint my stripes!" Nino called, and immediately the kwami was drawn within the bracelet. The purple energy wrapped around him– the aura feeling much more subdued than any Miraculous he had worn before, but like Trixx's it did not seem to merge with him. It twisted around him, transforming him– but it did not feel like a part of him.
But it didn't matter– it gave him energy, it gave him strength, and he picked up the Guardian in his arms, the Miracle Box tucked away in the bag he clutched. He turned, not sure what to make of Roaar's presence within his mind. It was unfamiliar, and he wasn't sure what the kwami wanted from him. They needed to leave, but to where, he did not know– with all these Miraculouses in hand Feast would be right behind them, and there was nowhere they could hide as long Feast could track them.
Getting rid of the akuma wasn't a simple option either– because the butterfly had been swallowed, meaning whatever it had merged with was hidden away as well.
"Mir-rac-culous!" A loud voice bellowed, closer than ever, which seemed to snap the Guardian out of his stupor.
"Hold on!" Nino cried, holding the Guardian close as he ran down the hall and towards the front door. If he could he would have gone crashing through the nearest window, but with Fu not transformed that would be nothing but a risk to injury.
But as he burst out the front door, he wondered if that would have been the better option.
Feast was making its way across the Seine, the deep strides sending waves of water crashing up onto the bank. The creature's mouth curved into what could only be a smile as it spotted them, letting out a bellowing roar.
"Mira-cul-lous!" It cried. Nino darted to the left, only for a large tongue to lash out and wrap around a light post, pulling it into the void that was its mouth.
He skittered back, and once more the tongue came at them again, and he barely had time to leapt over it, thankful that the Tiger was providing agility like the Fox. He dove towards the bike he had ridden here on, a well aimed kick sending it flying at Feast as the tongue came flying at them once more. It wrapped around the bike, swallowing it as Nino turned and ran back towards the massage parlor, diving inside.
"We can't outpace it!" Fu cried as Nino slammed the door– which was immediately ripped off the hinges as swallowed up, the whole ground was shaking as Feast came ashore, and Nino hurried towards the back of the building. "Leave me here so it will devour me and you get to safety!"
"Yeah, Wayzz will probably kill me if I do that," Nino said, though he didn't know if he was heard over the crashing and crunching of the whole building as Feast plowed into it. Walls crumbled, dust and debris filling the air, and Nino turned to shelter Fu with his body as the ceiling came crashing down about them.
"Yum yum– Miracul-lous!" Feast roared, swallowing up chunks of wall and broken furniture as it searched for them. Nino slid out from under the ceiling that had collapsed on him, grabbing the bola that was wrapped around his waist, throwing it towards the buildings that still stood behind the shattered massage parlor.
They were sent flying up into the air, Fu's arms wrapping tightly around Nino as they landed on the roof, and Nino was seeing why Ladybug's yoyo was so effective. No time to pause though, or to look back. An angry roar from Feast was enough to tell him that the beast realized that his prey had escaped, and now all he could do was hope that his head start was enough to keep them alive as they ran.
"We can't run forever!" Fu cried. "You need to save yourself!"
"If I was planning on saving myself, I would have avoided all this Miraculous stuff from the start!" Nino replied, leaping over an alleyway, shivers running through him as Feast roared once more.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" A voice chanted, and Alya closed her eyes tightly, rolling back over in bed. "No, you need to wake up, unless you want to be eaten alive!"
"Sleepin'..."
"Oh, don't tell me the Cat has rubbed off on you that much already! Wake up, Alya, before I bite you!"
"Demon!" A loud voice cried, and suddenly a weight landed on Alya's bed.
Still not wanting to wake up, Alya's eyes squinted open, ready to snap at Nora– who was twisting and writhing in the dark. She reached out and pulled the lamp on, and stared as she watched her sister attempt to wrestle a small orange figure, who kept phasing through her hands with ease, letting out a yelp as her sister grabbed the necklace that was clutched in their paws. Alya found herself wide awake at this moment, sitting straight up.
"Trixx?!" She cried, watching as the small kwami tried to escape her sister.
The hotel room Chloe had set them up in was nice, like an apartment itself. It featured two bedrooms, the girls sleeping in one and her parents in the other, except for Etta usually spent her nights in their parents room with whoever wasn't at the hospital with Ella, leaving her and Nora to share a room.
"Alya!" Trixx cried as Nora snatched them. They phased through her hands once more, being yanked back by the necklace. "Tell your crazy sister to stop!"
"Nora, let him go!" Alya cried, and Nora looked at her like she was crazy. "Trixx is a friend!"
"You're friends with a flying fox demon?" She said, but let go of the Miraculous regardless. Trixx zipped forward straight to Alya, panting slightly, the Fox looking exhausted.
"You have your Miraculous," Alya said, scooping up the Fox. "What's– what's going on? I thought you said you wanted to stay with Silver Paw?"
"What?" Nora said.
"Why don't you go back to bed," Trixx snapped at Nora. "If it weren't for me and my holder you'd still be trapped in that building, and I need to talk to Alya now."
"What are you doing here?" Alya asked. "Is there an akuma attack? Is everything okay? Is Silver Paw okay?"
"We have an akuma with the ability to track Miraculouses," Trixx said, and Alya's eyes went wide in horror. "You need to get out of here now and as far away as you can get. Wayzz is warning Ladybug, and... ugh, his 'holder' is warning the Guardian. Feast is heading towards the Guardian right now, this is your one chance to get away and keep your, um, secret intact!"
"If this akuma can track Miraculouses then why did you bring your Miraculous here?" Nora snapped, pointing at the necklace. "That's the Fox Miraculous, I ain't blind– you're putting us in danger!"
"We... we already are in danger," Alya said with wide eyes, and she lifted up her blanket as she searched her bed– and soon found Plagg fast asleep under her pillow. "I... I have to go, Nora– you can't tell anyone about this, okay?"
"Alya what are you saying–?" Nora began, blinking in surprise as she watched the small figure in Alya's hands twist and groan.
"Plagg, claws out!" Alya cried, met with Plagg's protesting cries as he was suddenly awoken. Fear was washing over her as her transformation did, and it wasn't for the fact that Nora was there. Her identity would have to be addressed later– but an akuma that could track down Miraculouses was frightening beyond words.
"Alya...?" Nora whispered with wide eyes as she stared at the Black Cat hero.
"I'll be back soon– I have an akuma to fight," Panthera said, looking at her sister pleadingly. "I'll explain everything later– but we have to go now!"
"I..." This was the first time she had ever caught Nora so off guard, but there was no time to stay. Panthera darted towards the window, yanking it open, Trixx flying right beside her. Without another word she drew her baton, leaping out into the night, vaulting down towards the nearest building.
She didn't pause as she landed, needing to get as far away from her family as possible before this akuma arrived. Trixx flew at her side, the Miraculous hanging around their neck, the kwami looking down right fearful.
"Where... where is Silver Paw?" She asked.
"We saw Blue Wing and Mellifera and followed them," Trixx said, eyes locked straight ahead. "They went to the museum, and Blue was forced to wake up a statue that was a dormant avatar, which was immediately akumatized. Silver tried to use illusions to get Blue away from Mellifera, but..."
"But what?" Panthera asked, swallowing.
"He warned us of what this avatar could do, that it can track and will devour everything it can and that he can't destroy it– Silver Paw had to leave him behind so he could get away, then I had to take the Miraculous to try to lure the avatar away and then warn you."
"Is... is Blue okay?!"
"He was... standing?" Trixx offered weakly, and Panthera felt slightly dizzy. "He, um... he's with Mellifera, and her Venom can stop the avatar if it tries to attack them. Right now we need to focus on defeating this avatar though."
"Where is it?" Panthera asked– and her reply was the sound of a building crumbling in the distance.
"Come on!" Trixx cried, flying off in the same direction, Panthera running after them. As they came closer she could make out the giant shape of a purple frog-like creature. A long tongue lashing out, swallowing up cars and chunks of buildings without hesitation, in swift pursuit as it charged through the street.
In her mind she could sense Plagg, his horror and surprise– yet a sense of familiarity with this being.
Oh wow she wished Cataclysm could destroy avatars, it would make this fight over in an instant.
Soon she could spot what Feast was chasing, a figure in a purple costume racing across the rooftops. For a moment she thought it was the Guardian transformed, before she spotted the old man in this holder's arms, trying to out pace the creature set on devouring them. Panthera and Trixx hurried closer, Panthera knocking a shingle loose with her baton, before throwing it at the creature.
"Yoo-hoo!" She called, cupping her hand over her mouth. "Two Miraculouses over here– much better than one, right?"
Feast paused for a moment, looking back at her, which did give time for the Tiger and the Guardian to gain more ground– before the avatar turned and continued chasing them once more.
"They have all the other Miraculouses with them," Trixx whispered. "Over a dozen. Ours won't be enough to draw them away."
"Oh," Panthera said, a pit forming in her stomach– before vaulting after them. She and Trixx moved together, soon catching up with Feast. Panthera jabbed at it with her baton, threw whatever was in reach, trying to do anything to slow it down. Her eyes went wide as the avatar suddenly turned, its tongue flying straight at her.
A zip of a yoyo filled the air, a wire wrapping tightly around her as she was pulled away. She was sent flying through the air, before being caught in Ladybug's arms, who was breathing heavily. Flying near her shoulder was Wayzz, who carried his own Miraculous in his paws just like Trixx.
"That was too close," Ladybug said, clutching her tightly.
"Did Wayzz fill you in on everything?" Panthera asked as the yoyo was unwrapped from around her, being set on the ground.
"Yes," Ladybug said with a nod. "We need to get to the object– but apparently it was swallowed. Both the item with the amok and whatever the akuma went into."
"We need to save Master!" Wayzz said urgently.
Ladybug threw her yoyo, having it bounce off of the back of the avatar. "Hey! You toad! Isn't it our Miraculouses Hawk Face wants you to grab?"
Feast paused, looking back at them. The creature seemed to be torn as it stood there in the rumble in the building, its head whipping back and forth between them, and the Miracle Box that was getting farther and farther away. A mask appeared over its face, Hawk Moth seeming to speak to it– and Feast let out a roar of frustration, pawing at its face.
They used that moment to make a break for it, looping around the giant creature, off towards Fu and the Tiger. They all make brief eye contact, before all running off in the same direction.
"We need to stop this thing now!" The Tiger holder said.
"Easier said than done!" Panthera replied.
"Also, who are you exactly?" Ladybug asked.
"Carapace," The Tiger replied.
Trixx let out a huff, and Wayzz flew forward so he was hovering next to the Tiger holder. Nino turned, coming to a stop, breathing heavily as he looked back towards Feast, who was making headway once more. He set Fu down, holding up his hand, and Wayzz slipped the bracelet into his wrist.
"Wayzz, Roaar, unify," He panted, a burst of green light surrounded him. "Roaar, divide."
Magenta surged out of the bracelet just as the green energy washed over him, and as the glow faded there stood Carapace, holding out his hand to catch the Tiger kwami as she fully appeared. His hood seemed slightly different than before, the collar rising higher so it covered the lower half of his face, and the top falling down so it covered his forehead, leaving only his goggles visible. Without a word he passed the panjas bracelet off to Fu, who slid it into his wrist.
"We must keep moving," Fu said. "This avatar has defeated the most skilled of fighters before, speed is our advantage."
"No," Carapace said as Fu transformed into Amber Lǎohǔ with a flash of magenta light. "Let it come to us. It's the avatar and akuma, so we only have one foe. We win as soon as we break the object."
"Um, the item is in its stomach!" Panthera cried, tensing as Feast sprang towards them, rapidly gaining ground.
"Come on!" Carapace said, leaping off the side of the building. Trixx went after him, and with Feast right behind them all were quick to follow.
"If we want to stop it, someone will have to go into the belly of the beast," Amber Lǎohǔ said gravely as they landed. "It will be me, as this being was a result of my mistakes–"
"Shell-ter!" Carapace cried as they landed on the street, lifting his shield overhead. Green energy flared out, a dome surrounding them as Feast charged down their street right at them.
Even hidden under the force shield, Panthera braced herself as Feast crashed into them. The road shook, the Shell-ter shook, the gaping mouth slobbering on the dome, but it held firm.
"We either need to purify the item within it, or whoever goes in will have to bring the item out!" Ladybug shouted over the frustrated roars of Feast. "You can't go, Master, it has to be me!"
"No!" Panthera and Amber Lǎohǔ shouted at the same time.
"We have only five minutes to decide," Ladybug cried. "Then the Shell-ter is gone and we'll need to act then!"
"Or we act now," Carapace said, looking up at Feast as it desperately tried to wrap its jaws around the Shell-ter. "Someone goes in and out before the shield fades. Someone who knows what the item will look like."
"Master's not going in!" Ladybug shouted.
"Not him, someone that can get through the Shell-ter right now," Carapace said, his eyes shifting. "Someone much faster than us."
They all followed Carapace's gaze towards the small floating Fox. Trixx's eyes widened as all eyes fell on them, backing up. "Nuh-uh, no way!" Trixx cried. "I'm not going into that thing!"
"It's… it's not a bad idea…" Panthera said slowly.
"…It would be safest," Amber Lǎohǔ agreed. "As you could phase out from Feast at any time."
Trixx's ears went back, and they glowered at Carapace. "I hate you."
With that Trixx dropped their Miraculous into Carapace's head, which was immediately snatched up by Amber Lǎohǔ, who gripped it tightly. Trixx looked up at Feast, sighing, and phased through the force shield. As the avatar's tongue lashed out Trixx darted forward, vanishing down its throat with a chuck of road that Feast had clawed up in his desperation to get through the Shell-ter.
"Mirac-culous!" He bellowed, as if pained that his prey was just out of reach. "Mir-a-cul-ous! Mirac-culous!"
"Sorry big guy," Panthera muttered quietly. "You're not taking Plagg."
"Is Trixx going to be okay?" Ladybug asked in worry.
"Kwamis cannot die," Fu replied. "And injury is next to impossible. The only thing I worry about is if he is not able to pass back as easily as he can enter, but considering that Blue was able to still sense the amok that means Feast's stomach is still connected to our realm in some form, so I believe he will be fine."
The Shell-ter trembled and shook as Feast so desperately tried to break through, gnawing on the force shield, tongue wrapping about it. The Miraculous holders all stood there in silence, Feast's desperation feeling like an afterthought as they waited. Carapace's Miraculous beeping in the silence.
Three minutes left until the Shell-ter fell.
"Come on, Trixx," Carapace muttered softly. "You can do it."
Another painful long minute passed with no sign of the kwami, silence dwelling between them, only Feast's roar filling the dome. As Carapace's bracelet beeped out its two minute warning Panthera saw a flash of orange on Feast's blue tongue, her ears flicking up as she watched a very unhappy Fox being drooled out, their paws wrapped around what looked to be a bubble.
"There he is!" Ladybug cried.
Amber Lǎohǔ held out his hands, eyes locked on the small bubble Trixx was now pulling through the air, where something thin could be seen from within. "Carapace, get ready to destroy the Shell-ter. I will use my powers to hide us from Feast's senses– but with so many Miraculouses I can't mask us for long. Ladybug, Panthera, you need to destroy the staff and purify it immediately before Feast can strike."
"On your ready, Ladybug," Carapace replied, hand tightening around his shield.
"As soon as Feast pulls back," Ladybug said, watching as the avatar gnawed on the Shell-ter. "Not yet... get ready... now!"
She called out the moment Feast pulled his mouth away, trying to get a better grip, and Carapace pulled his shield away, the Shell-ter cracking and shattering as he cried: "Exposure!"
"Conceal!" Amber Lǎohǔ called, magenta smoke surrounding them, and Feast reeled back in confusion. Even as the smoke disappeared they looked about, eyes not quite landing on them.
Panthera bolted, feeling unsettled that she couldn't see the others herself, but that only meant that Amber's powers were working. She sprang up towards where she saw Trixx, who was flying up towards a building, the orb still in paw. She used her baton to vault up there, and Trixx looked at her, holding out the sphere– where a small staff could be seen within the bubble.
"Destroy it," he said.
"The power wore off that quickly?" Panthera said in surprise, taking the sphere in hand.
Trixx smiled. "Deception is not so easily deceived."
"Cataclysm!" Panthera cried, destructive energy flaring up in her palm, and curling around the bubble. Immediately it turned to smoke, sizzling as it vanished in a flash– and down below on the streets Feast paused.
Then the avatar burst into bubbles, Feast vanishing.
"Reveal," a voice murmured, and Panthera jumped as she realized that she wasn't alone up here with Trixx– the others all appearing into view. One moment there had been no sign of them there– not even a sound, and suddenly they were surrounded as the Tiger's powers faded away.
The zip of Ladybug's yoyo was nothing but relieving as it zipped out towards where the Cataclysm had been, a butterfly and feather now drifting through the air. Immediately they were snatched away in the yoyo, the negative energy being cleansed from within.
Carapace sank down onto the roof, breathing heavily, his Miraculous beeping frantically. "It's over!"
"We're alive," Panthera agreed, watching as a pure white feather and butterfly were freed from the yoyo.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug cried, throwing her yoyo skyward, and a burst of pink light flared out from within. It surged across the city, swiftly restoring all that had been done. Panthera turned her attention to Carapace though, whose transformation was now falling. Trixx suddenly dove forward, landing on Nino's head, closing his eyes as his tail puffed up.
"Thank you," she said softly, holding out her hand. Nino grabbed it, allowing her to pull him to his feet. "If you and Silver Paw hadn't warned us..."
Nino hesitated, looking at the Guardian– who was watching the swarm of Miraculous Ladybugs, a slight frown on his face as he watched the flurry of the energy rush off to the east, not touching down onto Paris like the rest of the healing light.
"You owe me big time," Trixx muttered as he sat there on Nino's head, voice a hiss.
"Here Wayzz," Nino said softly, pulling a granola bar out from his pocket, breaking off a bit.
"What about me?!" Trixx cried as the exhausted Turtle kwami took the snack, eating it in several bites. "I was swallowed by an avatar! Covered in its gross saliva! I'm the one that should be getting food!"
Nino held up some of the granola bar, which Trixx snatched away. He sniffed it, before his ears went back. "These don't have any raisins in them. Or any fruit. How am I supposed to survive on dry grossness!"
"Trixx, don't be rude," Panthera said. "You can't expect Nino to have your favorite on hand."
"I was swallowed by a monster, Allllll...Rrrena! This was traumatizing, Rena, you can't just expect me to be okay!"
A flash of magenta light drew them from the conversation, and their eyes turned towards Master Fu, who was staring out in the distance, face unreadable. Roaar landed on his shoulder, looking at his holder in worry, and Fu let out a long sigh.
"So Feast is finally gone," he whispered. "But still, this isn't over."
"Master?" Ladybug asked.
He turned towards Ladybug, a sorrowful look on his face. "I am so sorry, Ladybug."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Master," Ladybug said, stepping forward. "Feast is gone now, we can... we can rest easy, for tonight."
"You all can," Fu agreed. "As for me... I'm afraid that I must leave Paris, Ladybug, and I will need to leave tonight."
"What?" Ladybug said, eyes going wide.
"You can't just leave!" Nino cried. "You– you're the one in charge of all this, aren't you? You just can't leave Ladybug on her own!"
"Hawk Moth can see through his akumas eyes," Fu said gravely. "And I spent part of this fight untransformed."
"No," Ladybug whispered, covering her mouth.
"Your identity," Panthera said quietly. "Oh... oh no, this... this isn't good."
"He knows my home as well," Fu said. "Feast took him right there, so I cannot go back. None of you should go near it either, I am sure he will be keeping a close watch on it to see who draws near."
"Paris... Paris is huge," Nino said quietly. "Surely you can hide here?"
"In theory, yes," Fu agreed, bowing his head. "But that is not a risk I cannot take. Hawk Moth getting his hands on any more Miraculouses would be dangerous enough, but you cannot forget the knowledge I carry. I know your identities, and I will not put you more at risk than I already have. I am taking the Horse Miraculous and leaving tonight."
Panthera turned towards Ladybug, who had turned pale. She reached out, pulling Ladybug into her arms, who was now shaking. "M-master," she whispered. "No, you can't go, I can't do this without you, I can't..."
"Marinette," Fu said softly, stepping forward, and Ladybug looked out at her with tear filled eyes. "You can. You have been doing this since the very beginning."
"B-but–"
"I have been here, that is true," Fu whispered softly. "But you were the one out fighting on your own for so long. Who faced Hawk Moth, and protected this city– I was merely a bystander like the rest of Paris." Fu looked up, eyes meeting Panthera's. "Besides, you are far from alone now."
"But... but..."
Fu stooped down, picking up a staff that was laying across the rooftops– the same one that had been trapped in the bubble, now whole thanks to Ladybug. "Besides, Feast has done more harm than just here in Paris. If my guesses are correct, the temple I once trained at is restored– along with all the Miraculouses that once dwelled there– and I cannot leave them unguarded up in the mountains. We have seen what Hawk Moth can do with three Miraculouses in his grip, and these do not need to be out in the world."
"You can't guard them all alone!" Ladybug protested.
"I won't be alone," Fu said, scratching Roaar behind the ears. "I'll have the kwamis with me. And besides, I think Roaar using Conceal on her own will do well with hiding where the location stands– we'll be alright. Just promise me you'll do the same."
"Of... of course, Master Fu."
"What about me?" A dry voice said, and eyes turned towards Trixx– who was still on Nino's head. "...Not going to use illusions to hide the temple?"
Fu hesitated, looking down at the Fox Miraculous in his hand, before he held it out towards Trixx, whose eyes widened in surprise as they took the pendant from the Guardian. "I think Silver Paw will need you more at the moment."
Trixx blinked, before clutching their Miraculous close. "...Not a bad choice, old man, not a bad one at all."
Fu took a deep breath. "Nino, I believe you should be informed about what Hawk Moth's goals are."
"He... he wants to bring back, um, Silver Paw's mother, right?" Nino said, shifting from foot to foot. "At least, that's what I've gathered..."
"Yes, we believe so as well," Fu agreed solemnly. "But it's not the what you need to be aware of right now– it's how he intends to do it. What takes place when the Ladybug and Black Cat are unified, which Hawk Moth intends to do."
Nino's eyes flicked out across the heroines, then back to Fu. "What... happens?"
"It unlocks a power called 'Wish'," Ladybug said quietly. "Where the user can in a sense wish for anything into reality. The Ladybug Miraculous can't bring back the dead, but the wish... he could bring his wife back with it."
"Not... not that I don't want to help Hawk Moth in any form... but how is that a bad thing?" Nino asked. "I... I mean that kind of power in his hands sounds... nightmarish, but just to bring back someone to them...?"
"It's not just bringing back someone," Trixx muttered quietly. "The Wish is about balance. You can't just twist the universe to your will."
"What we're trying to say, Nino, is that the wish is equal exchange," Wayzz said quietly. "To bring a life back, one must be taken. One of equal value for him."
"If Hawk Moth wishes to bring back someone from his family, then he will probably have to sacrifice a family member to do so," Fu said softly.
Nino's face turned ashen. "N-no."
Master Fu stepped forward, putting his hands on Nino's shoulder. "It is absolutely critical that Hawk Moth does not lay hands on the Ladybug or the Black Cat– do you understand?"
Panthera felt sick. Each time she learned something new about Hawk Moth, she thought it couldn't get worse. That she could not hate this man any more, but yet she found herself swaying as she stood there, dizzy.
"No!" Nino cried. "He– he can't! No, not Blue– not–!"
"Shh," Wayzz muttered, pressing up against Nino.
Master Fu turned away, staff in hand. "I... I'm leaving Paris in your hands."
"No!" Nino roared. "You– you can't just tell me that and– and– and leave!"
"I have to leave," Fu replied. "It will protect all of you. It will... it will protect him too." He looked back. "Is... is there anything I can do, before I go?"
"Get to safety, Master," Ladybug said softly.
"Um..." Panthera swallowed. "Er, my sister found out my identity tonight, when Trixx came."
"Your older sister?"
"Y-yes."
"Inform her to keep quiet about your identity, and embrace the support she can provide," Fu said simply, and then he looked at Marinette. "Perhaps you should do the same, with your family, Ladybug."
"But..."
"If you trust them, then do not hesitate."
"What... what about Nino?" Panthera asked, and she turned– but when she looked at where Nino had been, she saw no one standing there. Her eyes widened, looking about the roof, but there was no sign of Nino or Carapace, or of Trixx either. When they had all left, she didn't know.
"He..." Fu began, before closing his eyes. "I believe Nino has already forged his own path with how he is wielding Miraculouses– you may inform him that he may tell someone if you wish."
"Can... can we tell him who we are?" Ladybug asked.
"That will be something you will have to ask him," Master Fu replied, turning away.
He walked across the rooftop, and as he did so, Panthera's own transformation fell away. She held out her hands, catching Plagg as he came flying out of his ring, watching the Guardian. He was searching through his bag, looking for something within, pulling out a pair of sunglasses.
"Cheese," Plagg demanded, and Alya reached her pocket for something to give her kwami.
"Come on," Ladybug whispered, sounding slightly choked up. "We should go."
The flash of a transformation lit the rooftop, and Alya looked back to see that Master Fu had transformed, though not with the Tiger. He held out his hand, blue energy pulsing around it as he sent a flash flying. A portal flared up in front of him, churning and quivering.
The Guardian looked back, eyes locking with Marinette. She slowly raised a hand in farewell, taking in a shaking breath. The Guardian gave her a small smile and a single nod, before turning and stepping through the portal– which flickered and vanished behind him.
"Claws out," Alya whispered softly as Plagg finished downing some cheese, transforming once more.
With that Ladybug and Panthera took to the rooftops, running off into the night.
Adrien knew that he shouldn't be doing this. That he was only going to make the man angry– a part of him told himself to stay quiet, to bury the rising emotions down, but he couldn't. Not after what he had done, not after what could have happened– and the words bubbled up in his throat, being torn from his lips.
"No!" Adrien screamed. "No! No more! I'm not doing this anymore!"
"Adrien–" Gabriel began, but Adrien cut him off, limping about to face him.
"They– they– they could've died! If they hadn't stopped Feast it would've–" He tugged at his hair, the fear pounding through them. "I almost killed them!"
This reality hit him, and for a moment he couldn't breathe. He had woken up Feast knowing what it could do. What Emotions drove it, and what powers it would be granted. He had been the one to let Feast loose in the city to swallow the heroes alive, all for a few moments to escape the attic lair.
Adrien looked up at his father, green eyes hard. "I am done, Father. I am not using these powers to attack Paris, never again."
He could barely stand as he was, and he knew his father's next blow would send him to the floor. But it was nothing he had taken before. He had endured punishment for Nino's sake, and he could do it for the heroes too. It didn't matter what happened next, because he had reached his limit. Had pushed his morals aside for his father, his mother, his family– and he couldn't do it again. So he closed his eyes, trembling as he stood there, breath hitching.
"Very well," Gabriel said.
Adrien flinched, eyes flying open as he looked up at him. There was no tension, no anger, just that steady gaze. "Wh-what?"
"I expected too much from you," Gabriel replied. "And I can see that you were not as strong as I hoped you would be, and that this was too far." Gabriel reached out, and Adrien stumbled back. His father slid his hand under his chin, tilting his head up. "You do understand that I wouldn't have let the heroes die, don't you, Adrien? Once I have the Ladybug earrings I can summon the Miraculous Ladybugs for myself, I would have brought them back. I don't want to destroy this city, I just want your mother back."
"I– I know–"
"Can't you see they're trying to drive us apart, son?" Gabriel whispered softly. "They see what they want to see, and have decided that I'm evil. A villain. And that's what they're telling you."
His father then ran his hands through Adrien's hair, who felt like he couldn't breathe. He had been prepared for the worse, and instead these gentle touches were softly trying to comfort him– and he didn't know what to do.
"This city is wrong about us," Gabriel murmured. "They don't know the truth. They will never let themselves see that we're just trying to make our family whole. Yes, sacrifices will have to be made, but it's all to bring your mother back. That isn't wrong."
Adrien closed his eyes tightly, tears falling.
"But if you need to rest from all this, then that's what you'll do." Gabriel continued. "You've pushed yourself so far, your body does need to heal."
Adrien looked up at him. "The broken Miraculous will just do it again though, won't it?"
Gabriel's fingers paused. "Who told you that?"
"…Silver Paw."
Gabriel sighed. "Look at what he's done, Adrien. No wonder you've been so weak, with the knowledge of a broken Miraculous makes the connection stronger!"
"That's... that's what he said..." Adrien whispered, closing his eyes, clutching his brooch.
"And he told you regardless? I kept this from you for a reason, to protect you!" Gabriel took in a sharp breath. "Adrien, think about it. What other reason would he have told you but to weaken you? To weaken our attacks?"
Adrien wrapped his arms around himself. "He... he wouldn't, Father, he wouldn't."
"Adrien, I want you to go to your room," Gabriel said. "You need to rest and recover. You will have no more part of the akuma attacks, you are going to be staying here."
Adrien's eyes snapped open. "My– my room?"
He had been told that he would be returning to the attic after the attack, with the threat of being locked in the basement with his mother's body still fresh in his mind. He looked up at his father, wondering if this was somehow a trick, a joke. But his father only watched him with that even gaze, serious and unwavering.
"Go, Adrien."
"Can– can I have Duusu with me?" Adrien whispered, not believing his luck.
"Do you promise not to transform?" Gabriel asked. "Just rest?"
"Y-yes, Father."
"Then take her with you," Gabriel said, turning away.
Duusu slipped from Adrien's hands to his shoulder, and he barely believed what was happening. His vision blurred as he made his way to the stairs, steps staggered without Duusu's magic surrounding him. The temptation to transform was there as he looked up at the mountain of steps before him, but he merely took in a deep breath, his hands clutching the railing as he began his trek up to his room.
It had been so long since he had been in his own room, since he had even been in his bed, and he couldn't move fast enough to reach it. He wanted to collapse down onto it, but even after he dragged himself across his room he forced himself to lay down slowly, knowing everything would hurt more if he moved too quickly.
"Adrien?" Duusu whispered as he broke down crying.
"I– I thought he– he was–" Adrien whispered, but the words wouldn't come to him. He just couldn't have taken anymore, and the fact that he was laying here didn't feel real. He reached out, and immediately Duusu curled against him.
With a Miraculous in hand, a part of him was tempted to transform. To call Nino, just to let him know that he was okay now. That he didn't need to worry... but he had promised that he wouldn't transform. Besides, he didn't think he had the strength to do anything more except lie here.
Duusu shuddered.
"Are you okay?" Adrien whispered.
"Gabriel's really really angry," she whispered. "He wasn't happy that this akuma failed. He was trying to hide it, but now I can really sense it. He's scaring me, Adrien, I... I don't like these Emotions."
"We don't have to keep doing this, sir," Nathalie said, watching as Gabriel paced across his office, hands curled. He paused, shooting her a glare– which sent their kwamis scattering for somewhere to hide– little Nooroo was unable to get far from Gabriel, however, clinging to the mouse near the computer.
"Yes we do," Gabriel snapped– but Nathalie seemed unfazed.
"We have two very versatile Miraculouses in our hands now," Nathalie continued. "With access to more powers than we can imagine. If you would just consider, perhaps we wouldn't have to continue with these fruitless attacks."
Up in the corner of the room Pollen shuddered, the Bee pressed against the wall, as if just waiting for the orders binding her to vanish and let her slip away through the wall and out of reach of them.
"...I have been considering it," Gabriel growled after a moment. "But I'm not ready to give this up. With the Ladybug and the Black Cat we can have her back instantly. Whole. Unblemished. Perfect."
Nathalie took a step forward. "Gabriel, we're running out of options. Adrien can't keep going, and without him we lose a major advantage of akumas. Are we going to go back to square one, throwing out these endless champions as before– only now Ladybug is more powerful than ever?"
"I know!" Gabriel shouted. "I am well aware of what's happening! Gah– Adrien is too weak, too soft hearted, we could have claimed those Miraculouses weeks ago if he would have just taken action! Then Feast– Feast should have been unbeatable! Should have conquered the heroes– but yet even Ladybug finds a way to destroy the undestroyable!"
"So stop with the akumas, and let's do something more," Nathalie whispered. "We know an akumatized sentimonster is possible– a being of power granted even more so, and completely under our control. We could have her back tonight, we just need Adrien to craft us the perfect being."
Gabriel closed his eyes. "...Maybe, but there's one more thing we haven't tried. If we're going to have Adrien create one more sentimonster..." He trailed off, muttering. "Yes, Ladybug and her team may defeat any akuma sent their way, but it doesn't matter how hard they can fight– because all we need to win this war is the plain and simple truth."