Scene 22 - Adrien in the Mausoleum

"Did you know this was in your house?" Plagg whispered to Adrien from inside his shirt.

Adrien wasn't even sure if he was really awake. His father had woken him suddenly, and Adrien followed him into his study only to find that there was a secret elevator connected to his mother's portrait. He knew his father was private, but how could Adrien not know about a giant chamber beneath his own home?

"I'm not sure we're still at home," he replied. "Stay hidden Plagg"

As the glass elevator descended, Adrien could see a small garden at the end of the chamber. The leaves on the vines looked to be gently moving. Was it wind? There was also something in the middle, a rectangle that looked like…

Adrien gulped. It looked like a coffin.

When the elevator reached the metal platform, the door opened automatically. His father was nowhere to be seen. What was going on? Adrien pulled his shirt tight to hide Plagg, and tentatively made his way down the metal walkway. The chamber extended farther below him, revealing a steep drop into clear water covering the plumbing.

The chamber was dark, the only light coming from a large frosted window that let in the city lights. As he approached the small garden, he began to see what the movement was. Tiny pure-white butterflies were nestled among the plants, occasionally fluttering their wings and reflecting the soft light. Adrien had seen those butterflies before…

The coffin opened on its own with a pneumatic hiss, a glass casing covering its occupant.

"Maman?"

This had to be a nightmare. His mom wasn't here. She was missing, not dead. Not dead under his house this whole time...

"It's been 100 weeks since she left us" Gabriel's voice startled Adrien. He turned around to face his father, instinctually backing away from him.

"I have been trying to find a way to tell you," his father continued. "Nooroo, Duusu, double-transformation!"

No. Not him. His father couldn't be Papillon. Adrien gripped his phone tightly. He needed to call Ladybug, he needed to transform, but he was frozen in fear.

"It has also been 100 times that I have been trying to get the miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir to bring her back. Who would have thought that the solution was right under my roof?" Papillombre snarled.

He waved his cane, and Adrien saw a large black butterfly release. He should have dodged it, he should have run away, but he couldn't. The cursed insect found a home in his cellphone, and Adrien could feel the warm magic washing over him. When Papillombre spoke, it felt like he was speaking directly into Adrien's mind.

"Ephemeral, I am your father, Papillombre, I give you the power to accelerate the time it takes to bring your mother back."

Don't listen don't listen don't listen. He tried to tell himself.

"All I ask for in return is the miraculous of Ladybug, and yours."

He remembered Su-Han facing Papillombre. He had repelled the akuma by taking control of his emotions. Adrien needed to do that. But how could he control his emotions when he didn't even know what he was feeling? There was too much happening. His mother was dead. His father was his greatest enemy. And Ladybug…

Adrien panicked. He knew Ladybug's identity. If he was akumatized, he would betray her. He felt strength building inside him. He could never betray her.

"Don't ask me to do that," Adrien spat back through gritted teeth. Every muscle in his body was tensed, as if he was fighting a physical battle as well as a mental one. He was going to reject the Akuma, he was going to defeat his father.

Papilombre's right hand moved to trace the outside of his left ring finger. Adrien could feel his momentum waning. The warmth of the akuma had reached his face. He was in so much pain, and he could feel that accepting the butterfly would make all that disappear.

"No! No!" He shouted. He would not give in.

"Do you understand me, my son?"

Adrien's eyes widened. He understood. He could not fight this akuma. He could not fight his father's will.

"You're right, father," Adrien whispered.

It was automatic. The ring slipped off his finger, and then it was in his father's hands. Adrien had given it to him. He had surrendered his miraculous.

Papillombre slid the ring onto his gloved hand, and the tiny kwamii of destruction emerged.

"Catacly-" Plagg began to shout, but it was too late. Papillombre held up a hand, silencing him instantly.

"Kwamii! I am your new master, from now on," he commanded.

Adrien felt the pain drain away. The akuma had reached all corners of his mind, and he was safe now. As purple magic clouded his eyes, it felt easier than falling asleep.