Just who is Hawk Moth? And what will happen to our heroes now?
Chapter 4: Identity
"Father?" Adrien gasped.
Marinette stared at the man standing in front of them. Hawk Moth was Gabriel Agreste. That made even less sense than Adrien being Cat Noir!
Gabriel glared at Marinette and Adrien. Adrien's father was dressed differently than the few times Marinette had seen him. Gone was the silver vest, the cream-colored dress jacket and the red-and-white striped tie. He still wore his white dress shirt, but now Marinette could see a purple brooch pinned to the front of the shirt. Adrien's father must hide his Miraculous underneath his tie, Marinette thought.
"Yes," Gabriel said. "I'm Hawk Moth. And my son- my own son- is now my enemy." Gabriel punched the wall above Adrien's head.
"How can you be Hawk Moth?" Marinette demanded. "When Hawk Moth akumatized Simon Grimault, we protected you from Simon Says!"
"And technically, I was already your enemy as Cat Noir," Adrien quipped. He had, apparently, already recovered from his initial shock. "You just know my identity now."
How could he have calmed down enough to crack a joke? Marinette wondered. I'm still freaking out!
Gabriel glared at Marinette. "I don't need to be transformed in order to keep someone akumatized," he explained. "Why do you think Lila is still Volpina?"
Marinette turned her head the farthest she could while held back by butterflies. Indeed, she could just make out Lila standing off to the side, still akumatized.
"And you! You would have had everything if you weren't my enemy," Gabriel growled at Adrien. "Once the entire world is akumatized, you would have been a prince! And you're throwing it all away by being Cat Noir. You're throwing it all away for Marinette. For… for a bug!"
"Marinette is not a bug!" Adrien exclaimed. "Marinette is my lady. You're the bug!"
Gabriel scowled. Then he smirked, chuckling softly.
"You're acting like you still have a fighting chance," Gabriel scoffed. Unclasping the Moth Miraculous with one hand, Gabriel then opened the Miraculous with the same hand.
"I didn't know that Miraculous' can open up," said Adrien.
"Yours cannot," Gabriel announced. "The Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous' are… special. But all other known Miraculous', including the Moth brooch, can open up."
Gabriel held up the earrings and ring he stole from Marinette and Adrien in the other hand. "Now, it's time for me to receive absolute power." Gabriel carefully placed the Ladybug earrings into the open brooch. The moment the earrings settled inside the brooch, the Ladybug Miraculous dissolved.
Tikki, who had been floating quietly beside Nooroo, let out a small gasp. She then dissolved into a red vapor. The smoke then flew into Nooroo's mouth.
Gabriel then placed Adrien's Cat Noir ring into the brooch. The ring dissolved.
A loud snore could be heard next to Nooroo. It was dark in the room, but Marinette could now just make out a cat-like kwami, laying down in midair.
The kwami opened its green eyes. "Hey, what's the big idea?"
"Plagg! You were asleep the whole time?" Adrien cried in disbelief.
"Ate too much Camembert," Plagg shrugged just as he turned to a black vapor and flew into Nooroo's mouth. Gabriel quickly snapped his brooch shut and pinned it back onto his shirt.
"Nooroo! Transform me!" cried Gabriel. Marinette gulped as Adrien's father turned into the big baddie Ladybug and Cat Noir had been fighting for so long, despite only meeting him today.
Hawk Moth laughed. It started off as a soft chuckle, only for his laughter to become louder and more sinister.
"This power!" he cried. "I can sense negative emotions from all corners of the globe. And they're all within my grasp, all at once! It's… miraculous!"
For a minute, it looked as if Hawk Moth had forgotten about Marinette and Adrien, still bound to the wall by butterflies.
It looked like Hawk Moth had also forgotten Volpina, standing attentively by his side.
And it looked like Hawk Moth had forgotten that people make up the world, not just their emotions.
Then Hawk Moth's laughter slowly died. "Volpina, go and bring me Nathalie and Mr. Singe," the villain ordered. "Tell them that their rewards for sticking by this family will finally be given."
"Yes, Hawk Moth," Volpina bowed before heading out the trapdoor.
For a minute, there was an awkward silence. What does a superhero do when there's a lull during the villain's evil plan?
Marinette decided to fill the time with a couple of questions. "How did you get the Moth Miraculous?" she asked.
Hawk Moth glared at Marinette. "I believe that you're in no position to ask about my origin story."
Marinette didn't press it. "Who is Mr. Singe?" she asked instead. "I've met Nathalie, but never anyone named Singe."
Hawk Moth smiled cryptically. "Oh, you've met him."
More silence. Then…
"Did Mother know? Adrien whispered.
"What?" Hawk Moth snapped. "Speak up. I didn't raise you to mumble!"
"Did Mother know that you're Hawk Moth?" Adrien asked.
Hawk Moth didn't answer. Marinette could swear that Adrien's father was suddenly on the verge of tears.
"I bet she did," Adrien continued. "No wonder she disappeared. Who could ever love a supervillain?"
Before Hawk Moth could answer, the trapdoor opened again. Nathalie climbed up first. Following was Adrien's silent bodyguard, the one everyone called the Gorilla. Volpina brought up the rear.
Nathalie bowed to Hawk Moth. "Hello, sir." Her eyes flickered momentarily toward Adrien and her eyebrows went up slightly before turning back.
The Gorilla (who Marinette guessed was named Mr. Singe) bowed as well, although he didn't say a word.
Volpina bowed last. "I've brought your employees, Hawk Moth. As you ordered."
Hawk Moth nodded. "Now that I possess the Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous', the entire world can be akumatized. And I'm starting with the two of you." He raised his cane toward Nathalie and Mr. Singe.
"Power Move!" bellowed Hawk Moth. All the butterflies in the lair flew around him, turning into a vortex of akumas.
These included the butterflies that had been holding down Marinette and Adrien. But before the two could make a break for it, Mr. Singe suddenly scooped them up onto his back with one arm.
Holding the two former superheroes like sacks of flour, he leaped down the trapdoor. Sliding down the roof's shingles, Mr. Singe grabbed the railing just above the third story.
It was at that moment that Marinette recognized the building. It was the Agreste mansion! She felt sick. How could the villain have been so close, so long, without her realizing?
Mr. Singe started swinging his body to an open window on the third story just as a roar could be heard from the secret lair. A swarm of akumas flew out of the lair and down toward the third story where Marinette, Adrien, and Mr. Singe hung.
The akumas were heading straight for Marinette and Adrien. They wouldn't be able to get inside in time. Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the moment she would be akumatized.