Part 25: I Will.

——Monday——

Frustration welled inside Kat's heart. Mr. Agreste was being especially annoying that day. He wouldn't even let her bring Adrien a smoothie for after his photo shoot.

"He's simply too busy today, Miss Kat." Mr. Agreste sat behind his desk, signing papers.

Kat scowled. "And what about you? What are you doing today that's so important?"

Mr. Agreste returned her scowl. In his opinion, Kat had been fairly unreasonable for the entire day (and she really had). He couldn't figure out why.

"I need to design six more outfits by Friday," he said.

Kat growled and stalked out of the room. Mr. Agreste smiled.

"Perfect," he muttered, already making his way to his butterfly lair. He transformed into Hawkmoth and waited for the best time to akumatize Kat. A small feeling of hesitation made him pause, but he waved it away.

——About Two Hours Later——

During her time in the Miraculous world, Marinette had taught Kat to knit and crochet. Kat sat in her room in the Agreste mansion, violently crocheting a scarf. If she could just find visual proof of the similarities between Adrien and Chat Noir, maybe she could convince Marinette that they were one and the same. And then maybe, just maybe, she would agree to reveal her identity to Adrien.

She was so caught up in what she was doing that she didn't hear the quiet flip flap of the akuma's wings. She gasped as it was almost to the scarf and attempted to put up a mental block around the heroes' identities before it landed. She would have run, but string was tangled between her legs, and she knew she wouldn't be able to get away. (Cue Hawkmoth vision.)

"Hello, Kat. I am Hawkmoth. I am giving you the power to pull the strings. In return, you will give me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculouses."

Hawkmoth's voice was in her head, but she fought, or at least tried to.

"I know your voice, Hawkmoth," she hissed through clenched teeth.

Back in his lair, Hawkmoth shivered. He could feel how strong this girl was.

"I assure you, you don't know me," he replied.

"Yes I do." Kat took a deep breath and uttered one more word. "Agreste."

"Do as I say! You will have the power to orchestrate your friends' romance! You can control Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

"No! No! I won't do it!"

The akuma failed. It left her yarn and returned to Hawkmoth. He frowned, and then an idea sprouted.

——Early the Next Morning——

6:00. Kat slept fitfully. Having Hawkmoth in her head had left a mark. Her yarn and scarf were nestled against her. The akuma landed on the half finished scarf once again. In her sleep, Hawkmoth persuaded her.

"You resisted me earlier." His words sunk into her dreams. "Will you see reason now?"

"No," Kat whimpered, eyes still closed. "No."

"Come now, you want them to be happy, don't you?"

"Yes, Hawkmoth."

Hawkmoth breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't believe how much of a fighter she was. Actually, he could. Her emotions over a someone else's problems were strong, and what Hawkmoth actually couldn't believe was that her emotions hadn't made her upset enough for an akuma until then.

Kat's outfit hadn't changed when the akuma took over. She merely put away her crocheting and made her way to Marinette's.

——At the Bakery——

"Tom, could you…" Mrs. Dupain-Cheng trailed off. Marionetta stood in the doorway with a stormy look in her eyes, and a smile plastered on her face.

"Hello, Kat."

"Hello, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng. Where's Marinette?"

"Upstairs," she answered, brows furrowed. Something was wrong, but she didn't know what. Marionetta nodded and took the stair two at a time. Marinette looked up curiously when she entered the room.

"Hi, Kat. I thought you were with Adrien today."

Marionetta wordlessly cast out her hand and a nearly invisible string seized Mari.

"Don't speak," she commanded. "And hold still."

Mari's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Marionetta smiled.

"Isn't this fun? Your name is Marinette, and now I am your marionette! Heeheehee, this was just meant to be! Now follow me," she added, waving her hands like a puppet master, manipulating Mari's expression into a normal one. Marionetta rushed downstairs, pulling Marinette with her.

"We'll be back, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng," Marionetta called behind her as they left.

Marinette would have made a worried face if she could. How was she supposed to transform if she couldn't speak?

"Now to get Adrien," Marionetta muttered, the fake smile still plastered on her features.

——At Adrien's Photo Shoot——

Adrien yawned. He'd stayed up all night patrolling again. The photographer groaned.

"At least try to look awake!" He complained. "We only have a couple of hours until it's no longer early morning!"

"Sorry." Adrien rubbed his eyes. Not three seconds later, he rubbed them again. Kat had just barged in with a giant smile on her face, tugging Marinette behind her. Adrien squinted at the two girls. There was something off about them.

"Kat, Marinette, are you okay?"

Marionetta giggled and grabbed his arm, attaching a string as she did. To the utter dismay of the camera team, she raced off, trailing the two behind her. The cameraman was not happy.

"You bring Adrien back!" He yelled. Marionetta cackled in response.

"What's happeniiiinnng?" Adrien looked to Marinette for answers. She still couldn't talk, so she tried to shrug. It didn't work.

With inhuman strength, Marionetta launched the three of them to the roofs of Paris. Adrien made a little 'ah' sound.

"She's akumatized!" He exclaimed.

Hope you liked this! Also- you guys have no freaking idea how amazing the next part will be (wink wink).