Chapter 6 – Gone

Author's Note: WARNING this chapter is a downer. What? You expected kittens and rainbows? Maybe next time.

Tikki was as old as the universe itself, but for the first time in her life, she believed she'd lived too long.

Her partner was gone.

Her body drooped. She couldn't find the energy to float much less fly. She collapsed next to where Plagg lay on Adrien's chest. He looked so innocent, just a tiny kitten curled up for a nap. But Plagg wasn't napping, and the sweet moment would not last. His body faded as if dissolving into black dust, carried away gently by the breeze.

And in moments, he was just gone.

It wasn't right. The pair had been together since the dawn of time. They'd gone on billions of adventures together. Before humans were around, before ANY worlds carried sentient life, Tikki and Plagg were off having the times of their lives. She could remember being young and carefree, artfully crafting stars one at a time. The stars fused lighter atoms into heavier elements. Then, Plagg would collapse the star in on itself, hurling those elements across space.

But the time of adventures was over because Plagg was gone…

Tikki felt dizzy with grief. It couldn't be true. She thought back on so many shared memories.

When the first habitable planets came along, she took great care to shape lush islands one at a time. Then, her dear, Plagg, came along and triggered a terrible eruption to destroy her work and leave the planet's sky dark for days on end. The first time he pulled that stunt, Tikki completely lost it. She'd worked so hard to get her islands perfect, and he'd wiped them out in moments. But after the skies cleared, and her temper cooled, Tikki saw the genius of what Plagg had done. The tiny chain of islands was replaced by an entire continent for her to cultivate.

But he would never cause another cataclysm because he was...

A cry caught in her throat. How many times had they fought over how he used his power? Tikki understood the glory of Creation from the moment she was popped into existence, but it took eons to appreciate the majesty of destruction as well.

It didn't help that Plagg pulled reckless stunts on a lark. Boy, oh boy, did they fight when he wiped out the dinosaurs. Tikki swore she'd never forgive him. And then, when she finally managed to let it go, Plagg went and sunk Atlantis. (To this day, Tikki suspected Plagg only got his own Miraculous made to get back into her good graces.)

But it struck her that they'd never fight again because…

He'd never call her Sugarcube again.

He never stuff another stinky piece of cheese in her face.

Oh, that Kwami could make her so angry, but he'd never get the chance to upset her again because… She started to sob, covering her eyes with her paws.

They'd been friends, rivals, partners and counterparts. Two halves of a whole. From the very beginning, their connection transcended concepts of "love" or "attachment" as known by humans. Words like "love" described how Plagg felt about cheese or how Ladybug cared for Paris. It didn't even touch what Plagg and Tikki were to each other. No matter how powerful either of them grew as an individual, they were always better as a team.

But the team was gone because Plagg…

Maybe it would continue in a new way with Adrien, she consoled herself. But she knew it wasn't true. Adrien wasn't Plagg. It didn't matter that he inherited his power or even what he was to Ladybug. Adrien would never be Tikki's partner.

Plagg was her other half. They shared so much history. They'd loved and fought for so long and in so many ways. Their relationship blended destiny with duty, affection with dedication, and though it annoyed her, frustration with romance.

But all that was over...

Tikki sagged. She was as old as the universe itself, but in all her life, the cosmos never felt emptier than it did at that moment, because now, her best friend was gone.

Adrien came back to himself slowly. His finger twitched, and he shifted, feeling uncomfortable in bed. He tried rolling over, but something stabbed his shoulder. "Ugh..."

He adjusted again, but the pain only got worse. At last, he opened his eyes and saw… He was not in bed. He wasn't even in his room. Where am I? He peeled himself up from the cement to look around. He was in an alleyway, but how on earth did he end up here?

Did I pass out?

Adrien had to admit that was a possibility. There were days when he didn't eat enough and felt faint. Adrien promised to be tall like his father, but Gabriel had no tolerance for a "pudgy" model even when such weight was just evidence that Adrien was about to hit another growth spurt. If Gabriel suspected the extra fat detracted from Adrien's perfection, he'd order Adrien's meals be reduced. A few times Adrien passed out from simple hunger.

But he didn't feel hungry now, so what'd happened?

Maybe an Akuma got me? Instinctively, he looked to his hand. The ring was still there, safe and sound in camouflage mode. He heaved a sigh of relief. So, did Hawkmoth's latest Akuma get him while he was Adrien, and he passed out in the alley? Maybe?

Hmmm, Plagg might know, Adrien thought, lifting his shirt to look for the tiny cat in his inner pocket. Plagg wasn't there, but what Adrien DID see made his blood run cold.

His white over-shirt was stained red. Where in the stars did this come from? He looked down and saw that the ground beneath him was discolored as well. "What the…?"

Blood. He was sitting in a pool of BLOOD. Adrien scrambled to his feet, trying to imagine what could've happened while he was out. "Plagg?" He called. His kwami would know. "Plagg? Plagg!" Where was he? Adrien whirled, looking for clues. Had he shape-shifted into a werewolf or something? (Hey, it was possible.)

There! At the edge of the stained pavement, lay a small reddish-pink blob. It rolled over and looked up at him with bluebell eyes. It took him a beat to recognize it as a kwami.

Could this even be Ladybug's Kwami? He wondered, stepping closer. "Hello?" It didn't respond. It didn't even move away from the blood, so perhaps it was injured? Wait, if the kwami was hurt, did that mean something happened to Ladybug? Adrien's heart jumped into his throat. Had someone HURT his Lady?

"Hey there," he said, inching closer and picking him (her?) up gently, "are you ok?" The kwami trembled. "There, there, I got you. Do you need help? Is Ladybug ok?"

The Kwami didn't answer, but Adrien could feel her shaking get worse. He wrestled to keep his own panic in check, as he said, "I have a kwami like you." Maybe talking would calm her (and himself) down. "His name is Plagg," he added, and then it hit him that the pair might know each other. "Did you ever meet him?" He asked innocently, and to his horror, the little kwami burst into tears.

"He's GONNNNEEEE!" She wailed, but Adrien just stood there confused.

He didn't mean to be indelicate, but, "Uh, who's gone?"

The kwami blurred to his cheek and nuzzled him, "I'm sorry. I'm sooooo sorry..."

"WHO'S gone?" Adrien asked again, but there was a sinking feeling in his gut. "Do you know Plagg? Do you where he is?"

The kwami sobered. She pulled back, hovering in midair to look him in the eye. "You fell," she sniffled. "You were as good as dead, but Plagg saved you, but it cost him…" she trailed off.

"Adrien, he's…"

The truth hit like cataclysm to the heart. He's gone. "No, that's not possible. Plagg is a kwami. He can't die."

"I'm sorry, Adrien but…"

"NO!" He wasn't hearing it.

Then, before either said another word, a shrill cry broke the silence. Adrien's head snapped to the mouth of the alleyway as a surge of people ran past. Glad for the distraction, he raced to the street to see a writhing leafy mass chase after the runners.

Adrien glared back at the red and black kwami. "I don't have time for this," he growled. "I have to find Plagg. Paris needs us."

"Adrien," Tikki swooped back to his side. "There is no Plagg to find. You have his power now. You need to transform…"

"How can I transform without Plagg?!"

Tikki flinched but said, "Just say 'Claws out,' and you'll transform…" Another scream cut through the air, distracting them. "I have to go find my own master. Adrien, you can do this."

"I can't," he breathed, his throat tight. Tears stung his eyes.

Even if, according to her, he hadn't lost his powers, he HAD lost his best friend. He couldn't be Chat Noir without Plagg. How could he carry on when half of him was missing?

Tikki's smile was bittersweet. "Plagg believed in you, Adrien. He knew you could do it," she said. She flew upwards in search of her own master, but turned back to say, "He had faith in you, and so do I. So does Ladybug." Then she was gone.

Adrien watched her disappear as a tangled web of greenery claimed the street around him. He replayed her words in his mind. Plagg believed in you.

Hollow consolation when his best friend was gone.

'He had faith in you.' What does that matter if he isn't coming back?

'Plagg believed in you.'

That's it? Adrien raged, raking his fingers through his hair. Plagg, how can you think I'd want to do this without you? You're my best friend, my only confidante… He closed his eyes tight, denying reality. Vines closed in, caging him in place, but he had bigger problems.

It's not true, he told himself. It can't be true. Plagg is a kwami. He can't just be gone. Adrien's hands fisted in his determination. Plagg was NOT gone.

Adrien would not go back to his gilded cage without his kwami. Plagg was the only one who made isolation bearable. Plagg helped him endure the endless string of disappointments. Adrien couldn't go on with without his best friend! He WOULDN'T!

Plagg believed in you.

Adrien's heart broke as his determination crumbled. He sank to his knees, undisturbed by the twisting vines set to hold him in place. He just wanted his friend back. He'd already lost so much in life: his mother, his friendships (he hated lying to them, so he kept everyone at arm's length), and he'd never been close to his father. All he had left was Plagg.

But Plagg was gone, and Adrien's heart wasn't strong enough to carry on without him.

Tears flowed freely... until a voice in the back of his mind asked, but could you go on FOR me?

Adrien choked back a sob. What? The vines had him surrounded in every direction, but in spite of the imminent danger, Adrien focused on the question asked. Could he do it? Could he go on FOR Plagg? Adrien hesitated, allowing the last cracks in his verdant cage to seal shut.

Could he make sure Plagg's memory was not forgotten? Could he be Chat Noir to make his Kwami proud?

If it was for anyone else, the answer might be no, but for Plagg…

Adrien stood erect. It was worth a try.

Holding his head high, he cried, "CLAWS OUT!"