Chapter 8 – One Problem at a Time

Author's Note: Thank you SOOOO much for the reviews! Please keep 'em coming!

"…Chat Noir?"

The figure dove forward. With outstretched claws, he cut through the vine holding Ladybug aloft. He landed in a crouch and caught her in his arms. Then, before Mayura could recover and seal the gap in the ceiling, Chat soared out carrying Ladybug like a princess.

Ladybug was so happy for the rescue (not to mention for having her partner back) that it took her a bit to realize something was wrong. The dizziness she'd felt earlier returned with a vengeance. She barely whispered Chat's name before her eyes rolled back in her head as she slumped unconscious in his arms.

Ladybug's suit flickered like a set of red and white sparklers. If Chat didn't hurry, she'd transform back out in the open. He needed to find somewhere private.

A few rooftops peeked through the tops of the jungle greenery. Arcing high across the sky, Chat smashed into a darkened attic. Disregarding the rain of debris (and reassured Ladybug would fix it later), Chat raced to a pile of dusty boxes. He laid his partner down gently, hoping she'd forgive the cobwebs in her hair, and turned around just in time for a bright flash of light to indicate she'd changed back.

Oh, it would be soooo easy to find out who was behind the mask right now. Who was it that'd rejected him time and again? Did they know each other? Had they met in school or perhaps in passing on the street?

Chat shook his head ruefully. That was a bit of a stretch. Paris was a big city. What were the odds they'd ever spoken as civilians, much less that they knew each other well? He probably wouldn't even recognize her.

So, his rebellious side prompted, really, what harm could one little peek do? And his head angled to look over his shoulder…

…He squeezed his eyes shut. No! I can't. But if he wasn't going to steal a glance, what was he still doing there? He had a sentimonster to fight and a supervillain on the loose. He took a step away.

Not to mention, Ladybug's missing earring. Oh yes, he noticed that bit when he carried her to safety. If Adrien had been a minute slower, Paris would've lost Ladybug altogether. Mayura would've taken both earrings AND learned her true identity.

OK, one problem at a time. He had to get the earring back. Then, Ladybug could transform, and they'd deal with sentimonster. Getting a reign on his impulses, he returned to the gaping hole in the ceiling.

Ladybug will fix the city, and everything will go back to normal... whatever that means. Normal was bad enough on a good day, but without Plagg… He didn't want to think about it. His hands fisted, and he hurdled back through the hole in the roof.

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the jungle of Paris shades of lavender and indigo. As rough as the day had been, Adrien hated to think what people would face overnight. Hundreds were trapped in their cars and caged in place on the streets. The last thing Paris needed was to face some poor kid akumatized because they were drowning in nightmare fuel.

We'll stop this, he promised, although "we" at the moment was just him. He took a deep breath as he refocused. First things first: He had to get Ladybug's earring back. That meant he had to track Mayura.

Balancing atop a chimney stack, Chat closed his eyes to take in the sounds and scents of his beloved city. If she was out there, he'd find her.

Not far away…

Mayura believed she and Hawkmoth must've set a new record for most near-wins in one day. First, Hawkmoth akumatized old 'Chew Toy' into Chat Blanc. Then, Chat escaped – freeing Ladybug in the process – but Mayura successfully re-captured her. THEN, when Mayura held one of Ladybug's earrings IN HER HAND… she dropped it.

It was her worse failure to date.

On the plus side, she didn't think the heroes had recovered it yet either, but without recalling the amok (and thereby clearing the vines), there was no way to find it short of searching the streets meter by meter. Fortunately, the overgrown sentimonster cleared space as she moved, but that still meant she was searching for a single stud earring (most likely in camouflage-mode) at night in a jungle.

Last, but certainly not least, the strain of the broken Miraculous was wearing on her. Her racking cough was getting worse, and she had to stop every few steps to catch her breath. If it were an option, she'd de-transform to minimize the effects, but then the sentimonster would revolt, caging her in place like everyone else.

So she soldiered on. And as if she didn't hate herself enough yet, Hawkmoth chose then to commune with her. Mayura, what happened?

She straightened. "I… lost, Hawkmoth. Chat Noir rescued Ladybug before I could take her Miraculous." It was true, well, half true.

Hawkmoth's frustration burned hot across her senses, drowning everything out. Even the emotions of other people in her area were muted next to him.

Except for one…

Hawkmoth was ranting, but Mayura tuned him out as the hairs on her neck stood up. Someone was close. Someone with feelings of tension, fear, excitement, and a desperate hunger.

Mayura! Hawkmoth reclaimed her attention. What is going on?

"I'm not sure," she admitted aloud. "But I think… I'm being hunted." She turned slowly, zeroing in on the source of the predator instincts (though she also detected Hawkmoth's wave of concern). "I'm fine," she said, closing her eyes.

The emotions split and separated in two directions. Hmmm, so TWO predators then. To her shock, one was technically an 'ally,' (but one so naturally self-serving that she registered as predatory).

Ignoring Lila Rossi, Mayura focused on the real threat.

Opening her eyes, she couldn't see past the shadows, but Mayura knew he was there, hidden by the vines, watching her. "Hello, Chat Noir." The branches rustles, and he stepped into the dim light. She brought her fan up and took a wide stance.

"Where is Ladybug's Miraculous, Mayura?"

"Where else? I gave it to Hawkmoth," she lied.

Chat's hands fisted, ready for a fight. "Well, then, you'll just have to tell me where I can find him."

Mayura smiled. "Not likely."

Chat launched at her, but she side-stepped him. The vines moved instinctively to give her space to run while blocking Chat's approach. All things being equal, she could've taken him...

But things were not equal. Mayura was too weak from the damaged Miraculous to handle a second fight. Facing defeat, she stepped out of sight and de-transformed in an alley before Chat Noir could stop her.

No longer Mayura, she lost control of the sentimonster. The greenery closed in around her with branching vines and giant leaves. If she was lucky, they'd block Chat Noir's view of the alley. And from what Duusu once said, even if he identified 'Natalie' trapped there, he'd have no clue where 'Mayura' went.

But…

But with a damaged Miraculous, there were no guarantees. There was a chance Chat would see through the guise.

This isn't going to work, she panicked. (Absently, she wondered how her fear would manifest if used for a sentimonster, but she shoved the random thought aside)

Chat's steps were silent, but he couldn't avoid the soft shushing of branches as he slipped from one to the next.

He was getting closer.

He was going to find her.

And if he tracked her, he'd certainly connect her to Gabriel.

Oh, Gabriel, I'm sorry. I've failed you.

Please forgive me…

Then, just as Chat Noir would've turned the corner to see her hiding place, a familiar voice rang out, distracting him. "Chat! Chat Noir! The sentimonster! I know where the feather is! Chat! Are you there?"

Nathalie didn't breathe until Chat turned back, following the sound of Lila's voice. As she peered around the corner to watch him, she had exactly one thought: Oh, it's good to have allies.

Taking it slow, Marinette opened her eyes to see she was in someone's attic, surrounded by dusty boxes and old furniture. Nobody was around, but she had to wonder, how did I get here?

That thought was derailed by a soft moan coming from beside her.

"Tikki?" She said, scooping the kwami into one hand, while rummaging in her purse with the other. "I think I've got half macaroon left, and when we get home, I promise I'll make you a whole batch of cookies. You earned it," she praised, but there was no response. "Uh, Tikki?"

The kwami features twisted in pain as she released another groan, but she didn't open her eyes. Marinette could count on one hand the number of times she'd seen Tikki sick and still have fingers to spare.

She didn't hesitate. She jumped to her feet and promptly tripped over a curtain rod. Hopping on one foot to regain her balance, she flung open a door and raced down four flights of steps to get outside. She half-expected to find the streets blocked by vines, but when she opened the front door, she was relieved to see the jungle gone.

Score one for Chat Noir! She was sure she'd get an earful about his 'brilliant discovery of the tiny amok lost in a city-wide mess,' but she didn't worry about that now.

Convinced that Paris – and her partner – would manage things for a few minutes more, Marinette ran to the only person she knew could help Tikki. "Master Fu!" She cried bounding back into his studio.

"What is it, Marinette?"

"It's Tikki. I think she's sick! She won't wake up."

Master Fu took the kwami and laid her on a pillow. After a quick examination, he said, "She will be fine. Let her stay here overnight, and I will tend to her. Do not worry, Marinette, she should be back to her old self in a few days." He went to a cabinet to pull out a tray sealed jars. "Sadly, that takes us to another matter."

"Yes…" Marinette deflated. Now that she knew Tikki would be fine, there was no putting off the other news. Hanging her head in shame, she said, "Master, I lost one of my Miraculous."

"What?!" He whirled on her.

"I was fighting Mayura, and she tied me up, and she took it before Chat Noir could rescue me…"

"Chat Noir rescued you?" Fu interrupted her. Marinette was confused why he'd latch on to THAT detail. She and her partner rescued each other like every other day.

"Uh, yeah," she said, "But Mayura didn't get both, and we still have Tikki, so it's not like she or Hawkmoth can use a lone Miraculous by itself, right?"

"That is true, but even when Tikki is well, your powers as Ladybug will be compromised without both earrings." He turned back to the cabinet. "And that is not our only problem."

"What do you mean?" Hovering over his shoulder, she watched him choose strange ingredients, including but not limited to dried seaweed, two sugar cubes, a strand of hair, and a freshwater pearl. He put everything into a stone bowl and ground them with a pestle.

"What do you know about what happened to Chat Noir today?" He asked as he worked.

"Chat Noir?" Marinette barely gave him a second thought since waking up in the attic. Tikki was more important. "Uh, after Tikki went to help him, not much," she said. "But before I transformed to fight the senti-monster, Tikki told me he was fine."

The ingredients reduced to mush, which he dissolved in milk. Fu's eyes narrowed. "That is what she said? That he was 'fine' when she left him?" He scooped some into a teaspoon and brought it to Tikki.

"Yeah…" Marinette replayed the conversation. "Well, actually she was vague. Mayura was hot on her heels, so we had to transform right away to keep her learning my secret identity."

"I see. So Tikki didn't say anything about Chat." He lifted the kwami's head and tilted the edge of the spoon to her lips. To Marinette's surprise – and relief – her kwami drank the whole serving, letting out a contented sigh.

Still, she asked, "So she'll be ok now, right? That will cure her?"

"She'll be fine," the guardian promised with a smile. He resettled Tikki on the cushion, before turning back to Marinette. He invited her to sit on the meditation mat before offering some freshly made tea. She accepted, and Fu poured them each a cup from the kettle.

When they were settled, he began again, "Marinette, this is important. Did Tikki say anything about Plagg or Chat Noir before you transformed?"

The teen thought back. "Well, not really, but she'd never leave him if he wasn't ok." Fu didn't seem pleased. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Perhaps." Master Fu took a shallow sip. "There is something I must show you." He set aside the cup and pulled out his phone. "The same perception filter that prevents others from recognizing you while you are transformed can also blind YOU from noticing if the owner of a particular Miraculous changes." He paused to let that sink in. "Very few – perhaps not even you – would notice if Black Cat ring passed from one person to another, unless he told you outright."

"Master, I think I'd know if my partner changed."

"Would you?" Fu slid the phone forward. The screen showed an aerial photo of the famous Black Cat hero fighting the vines. "Tell me who is in this picture?"

"It's Chat Noir."

Fu tilted his head. "Is it?"

"Of course, it is. Who else would it be?"

Fu slid the phone closer, "Look harder. What do you see?"

Marinette picked up the phone to study the picture. She expanded it, magnifying without pixelating it beyond recognition. At first nothing seemed amiss, but then, pieces stood out. "His hair is darker, and, um, his clothes are different?" Her Chat wore soft leather, but this one appeared to be in robes.

"Very good. Personally, I noticed his skin appears several shades darker, and his face…" He paused, allowing his protégé to see what he already had.

It felt like a blindfold was ripped from her eyes.

Marinette saw the truth. The boy in the picture looked NOTHING like her Chaton. Sun-kissed skin, long black nails visible because he wore no gloves, and the robes of a martial artist dyed to match his ink-black hair.

"That is not my partner," she said blankly. She flashed back to what Tikki had said. It's Chat Noir! Plagg says he's dying! Did this imposter steal her partner's miraculous? How did he get it? Did Chat fight him off? Or did the monster steal it off his corpse? Marinette swallowed the bile in her throat. "Who IS this?"

Master Fu sighed. "That is what we must find out. And more importantly we must uncover whether they are friend or foe. But one matter at a time, Marinette. Did you notice anything unique about him while you fought the sentimonster?"

She shook her head. "It was all so quick. I passed out and…" Her eyes went wide with fear. "Master, what happened to Chat?!"

"I do not know, but together, we will find the truth."

Author's Note: First, Chat Noir'snew look is based off a fanart I saw for "Human Plagg."

Second…

Miraculous Ladybug meet "Narrative Tension." "Narrative Tension" meet your worst nightmare. I swear there is a rule in MLB that everything must reset by the end of an episode (or two episode arc), but I disagree.

That said, we have several dilemmas up in the air as we race to the end. Things such as (1) Ladybug's missing earring, (2) Fu's suspicions of "New" Chat, (3) Plagg being dead, and (4) Marinette's fear that Chat Noir has been replaced by an evil imposter. And this may be a spoiler, but only two will be resolved before the end. Any guesses which and how?

MWUHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks for reading! Please review!