CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:

THE LAST PETAL FALLS

Marinette was on her hands and knees upon the sleek stone balcony, the death throes of the enchantress still ringing in her ears.

It was over. It was finally over.

But then Marinette spotted the tiny trail of dark-red blotches on the ground, each one growing bigger thanks to the rain… and that's when she remembered.

Adrien collapsed onto his side, wheezing as though he was trying to suck air through a reed.

When a surge of adrenaline, Marinette rose up and hastened to his side. She rolled Adrien onto his back and lifted his head like she was cradling a baby. His eyes were closed, and there was a thin trickle of blood on his lip. Marinette wiped it away gently with her finger.

Beside them, Theo slowly came to his senses, and he stared pale-faced at his wounded rescuer. "He… He saved me," he said.

Marinette's mouth quivered, but she couldn't find it in her heart to be mad at him anymore. After all, it wasn't his fault. "I know," Marinette said softly, not taking her eyes off Adrien. "He does that."

Theo shook his head, his brown eyes filled with regret.

Thundering footsteps and colourful buzzing sounded behind Marinette.

She looked over to see Alya and Nino standing in the shattered threshold, right beside the table with the enchanted rose. Their faces went slack upon seeing the half-dead cat creature in their friend's arms. Alya covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide with horror.

The seven fairies appeared beside the two humans, one by one, and their reactions were the worst of them all.

Plagg's pupils dilated when they fell upon Adrien. His mouth fell open, but no sound came out.

Duusu wasn't as silent. "Oh, Mon Dieu!" she muttered.

Tikki and Pollen gasped and covered their mouths, their antennae drooping.

"Oh no…" Wayzz whispered.

Nooroo covered his eyes for a moment until Trixx came over and embraced him, but the fox fairy's own eyes were turning glossy.

Marinette struggled to control her breathing, despite the hard knot in her stomach. "Help him," she said to the fairies. "Use your magic! Do something!"

To her woe, her little friends exchanged rueful glances before eyeing the human girl with regret.

Marinette knew what they were all thinking. She could see it in their eyes. But she couldn't accept it. She wouldn't accept it. "Help him!" she begged.

"We can't," Plagg said, his voice hard and low.

"Our magic… doesn't work that way, Marinette," Tikki said, each word straining with effort. "We can't heal anyone of any injury." She sniffled. "I'm sorry."

Marinette's face crumpled. Her chest was hurting now, like it was being stabbed with several knives. "No…" she murmured, her eyes filling with tears. "It's all my fault. If only I'd gotten here sooner."

Theo looked up at her, his pained face sagging. "No, Marinette," he insisted. "The fault was mine. I did this. I…" He swallowed. "I didn't see that he really loved you. I didn't want to see it. I was so… selfish! So blind!" He hung his head down in shame, like a soldier mourning the loss of a comrade. "And yet, despite what I did, Cat Noir… He saved my life anyway. But he… he shouldn't have had to."

Marinette gazed at him, half-thankful that he was finally seeing the truth and half-sad that he truly felt such regret over his actions.

Adrien stirred in her arms, albeit while wincing. "If it's… any consolation…" he whispered. "I never blamed you."

Marinette looked down at him. "Kitty," she said, caressing his face tenderly.

He blinked up at her, almost sleepy-like, and smiled. "You… came back."

Marinette smiled through her tears. "Of course I came back," she said adamantly, "and I'm never leaving you again."

Adrien's ears drooped against his soaking hair. "I'm sorry, Milady," he said, "but I think… it's my turn to leave now…" He let out a hard cough and fell back with a groan. Then, he chuckled. "Talk about bad timing, huh?"

Marinette shook her head again, angrily this time. "That's not funny," she snapped. "Don't say that. You're being stupid."

"You're right… I am stupid." Adrien blinked several times, as though it was hard for him to focus on her face. "I should've told you… how I felt for you. I was afraid… that you would… would never be…" He coughed again, so violently it made his whole body shudder.

Marinette stroked his forehead, realizing she was running out of time. "Shhh… That doesn't matter anymore. I'm here now, Adrien. I'm home." She giggled rather pathetically and smiled at him. "I'm finally where I want to be – with you. You are my home."

Adrien's pale lips curled up into a warm, affectionate smile. A single tear trickled along the corner of his furry mask and tickled Marinette's fingers.

"I'm going to look after you, like I did before. Everything's going to be okay. You'll see." Marinette glanced over her shoulder, her midnight-blue hair whipping about her face. "Tikki, Plagg, tell him!" She said desperately. "Tell him he's going to be okay!"

It was a lie, and she knew it. But Marinette would rather lie than admit the truth: that Adrien was dying… and there was nothing she could do to save him. The enchantress, the curse, the months they had spent together – none of that would matter anymore. It would all just be a memory.

The fairies whimpered amongst themselves, each of them shaking with disbelief and sorrow.

Alya now had her hands over her heart, and her amber eyes flooded with tears of her own. Nino slid an arm around her for support, his own expression turning grim and forlorn.

"Milady…"

Marinette swallowed a hard lump as she gazed back down at her beloved Cat Noir.

He was still smiling. He looked so tired… yet so peaceful and calm. "Thank you," he sighed.

She blinked, clearing her vision. "For what?" she asked.

"For helping me remember… what really matters," Adrien answered. "For showing me… that I was more… than what I am now."

He reached up with a trembling hand to caress her cheek, and Marinette held it there with her free hand. His fuzzy fingers were so wet and cold, but she didn't care. She would be his tether. She would not let him go.

Adrien paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm not afraid anymore… and it's all thanks to you. You saw me as more… than just a beast. You brought me back to life… when my world… was starting to go dark." More tears escaped him. "I will never forget that, Marinette… Never forget…" His eyelids fluttered, and his head fell back again.

Marinette adjusted him so he could look right at her. "Stay with me, Adrien," she said fiercely. "You have to stay with me. Please…" She shivered and sucked in a breath. "I need to tell you… to tell you… I… I…" She choked on her own words until nothing came out but pathetic, childish croaks.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she say the words? Why did everything hurt so much?

But Adrien didn't call her out on her failure. He just kept on smiling that stupid, obnoxious feline smile of his. He just kept on stroking her cheek – a simple but assuring gesture to remind his lady that there was nothing for her to worry about.

"I know," Adrien said, his voice now nothing more than a feathery-light whisper. "I'm… just glad…" He took a few more laboured breaths, his face contorting from the effort. "… I got to see you… one last time…"

Marinette was the one shaking now, and she nudged his hand closer against her face to stop herself.

Then, Adrien's eyes widened a bit, like he was seeing a beautiful star before him. "Milady…" he sighed his final breath.

Then, those gorgeous green eyes with those cat-like pupils slid closed.

Finally, Adrien's head lulled to the side, and his hand went limp in Marinette's before falling unceremoniously to the ground.

Marinette couldn't breathe anymore.

She didn't care that Alya was now weeping in Nino's arms.

She didn't hear her fairy friends' uncontrollable yet silent sobs behind her.

She didn't notice Theo turning his head away and squinting his eyes shut with remorse.

Marinette only saw Adrien's tranquil face, the chest that no longer rose and fell with his breathing, and the clawed hand that lay lifeless and limp at his side.

Then, the baker's daughter somehow remembered how to breathe again. "No… No!" she cried. She turned Adrien's head back to face her again, and her bluebell eyes focused solely on his calm, rain-kissed face. "No no no no no! Adrien, no! Don't go! Please, don't go! Don't leave me!"

But it was no use.

He was gone.

He was dead.

Marinette couldn't contain her grief any longer.

With a heart-wrenching cry, she lifted Adrien's body closer until his head now lay against her chest, and she buried her teary eyes into his hair. Then, she cried and cried and cried, and not even squeezing her lids shut would stop the flood. Her whole body shook with heavy sobs, even as she rocked her beloved cat creature back and forth in her arms.

"You can't go, Kitty," she whispered between her cries. Her tears dripped onto Adrien's pale, bloodless cheeks. "You can't go… because I love you!" Her voice rose. "Are you listening to me? I love you!"


Tikki stiffened the moment she heard Marinette utter those three little words.

Then, she looked over at the enchanted rose.

The second she did, the light of the last remaining petal went out like a candle. Then, it broke off from the head and fluttered down with a gentle grace onto the table. The red immediately gave way to purple. The dead stem remained hanging in mid-air, bent and shriveled.

Tikki blinked at the sight before looking back at the heartbroken Marinette sobbing over Adrien's body.

Nothing happened.

Tikki's throat bobbed. "But… But… the last petal…"

Wayzz shook his head. "It's too late," he said. "He's gone."

Tikki tried – and failed – to blink back her tears. Hadn't they all cried enough?

It was all over. The enchanted rose was dead… just like the cursed victim it had been bound to. Marinette's declaration came too late.

But… at least… in some way… Adrien was now free.

Tikki looked over at Plagg.

The cat fairy was still staring mournfully at his fallen friend, his whiskers bent sideways and his tail hanging limply behind him. When Tikki came over to hover beside him, Plagg didn't complain when she wrapped her tiny arms around him. Nor did she complain when he did the same to her. They just held each other tightly, silent and together in their grief.

The only sounds now were Marinette's hitched sobbing, along with the soft cries of Alya and some of the fairies… and the faint patter of rain that still remained.

Then… something bright shot across the sky in the blink of an eye.

Tikki and Plagg both straightened. "What was that?" the cat fairy said aloud.

The other fairies looked up curiously, as did Alya and Nino.

Just then, another streak of light darted through the air before vanishing. Then another. And another.

"Are those… shooting stars?" Nino asked, utterly bewildered.

Duusu inhaled deeply as more sparkling lights rained down from above. "C'est magnifique…"

Trixx and Nooroo clung to each other, unsure whether this was a good sign or a bad sign.

Pollen cringed when one falling star struck the balcony and burst into several glowing shards that scattered about the stone floor like glowing hailstones.

Another one did the same thing, followed by two more.

Theo looked up with puzzlement, and then staggered away on his hands and feet from the hot, glittery specks.

More stars rained down, and that's when the wind started to pick up.

Alya gaped at the sight, leaning further in Nino's embrace. "What's happening?" She looked over at her best friend. "Marinette!"


Marinette felt an abnormally warm wind pick up, scattering her hair in all directions.

It was only when she heard Alya call her name when she finally looked up… and gasped.

She was kneeling in a sea of stars, each one smoking and illuminating like blue and white gems. Together with the blowing wind, the scene became a swirling twister of light and air… with her and Adrien caught in the middle of the storm.

Then, before Marinette could blink, she felt Adrien's body moving.

She looked down, and her bluebell eyes lit up with shock as Adrien's lifeless form arched back and floated up into the magical vortex, slipping out of his lady's arms.

At first, Marinette tried to stop him, but the magic was too strong. It picked her up with a gentle caress and set her down outside the twister. Alone now, Marinette could do nothing but watch with a mesmerized gaze.

Her Cat Noir rose higher, into the center of the cosmic flurry. His head faced the sky, and his arms and legs hung limp towards the ground. His black cloak billowed and wrapped around his body as he pivoted around in slow circles. Several more sparkling lights orbited him like miniature planets, twirling faster and faster.

Now, everyone was gawking at the scene, too stunned to move or speak.

Finally, Adrien stopped spinning. The swirling lights converged into his body, making him glow as if he were a living star himself. His fur, his eyes, even his hair – all of it radiated with a pulsing heavenly light.

Marinette brushed her hair away from her eyes, confused and enthralled at the same time.

Then, the air lit up with a blinding light, making everyone wince and shield their eyes.

But through her fingers, Marinette saw what was happening to Adrien.

In an instant, his cat-like claws slid back into his fingers, and all that black fur shrunk back to reveal pale, peachy skin. Human skin. Beams of light sprouted from Adrien's fingertips like rays of sunshine. Those large, padded feet shed their animalistic features until the soft soles and clawless toes of two small yet undoubtedly human feet remained. More beams shot from his toes. That long, furry tail faded into golden sparkles, leaving no trace of it behind. Finally, those black ears curled inward before vanishing beneath Adrien's wafting mop of golden hair, which seemed to shorten itself. That black mask dissipated, leaving nothing but pale, half-almond-shaped eyelids fanned with golden lashes. The sharp canines in his teeth became flat – as ordinary and neat as could be.

Adrien's whole body sparkled, and then a single explosion of light burst from his bare chest.

Marinette didn't so much as cringe.

When the light receded and there was nothing left but smoke and rain, Theo, Alya, Nino and the fairies gazed over incredulously at the floating figure before them.

Still lifeless and limp, he was lowered back onto the balcony like a leaf falling from a tree. His cloak draped over him like a blanket.

As soon as he landed safely, Marinette moved over to him, her newfound sense of hope overriding her caution.

Is that… Is that really…?

She reached out with one hand towards the body.

Then, like a breath of wind blowing out a candle, the smoke vanished… and the boy on the floor gasped, his chest rising.

Startled, Marinette backed away, smack into the stone railing.

Across from her, Theo remained on the ground, utterly paralyzed. His mouth hung open like a sardine can, and his brown eyes were so wide, they looked like they were bulging.

The strange boy groaned softly before pushing himself onto his feet. His cloak slid off him, revealing a thin human body with a slightly-muscular build beneath that tattered green shirt and black pants. There were no cuts or bruises anywhere on him; no trace of that mortal wound. The boy rubbed his head as he regained his balance and stood straight and tall, his back facing Marinette.

When the boy lowered his hand, he stiffened and stared at it. He checked the palm side, and then the front. Then, he checked his other hand. Then his chest. Then his two small, perfectly-round human ears.

Marinette was shaking again, but not from dread or grief.

Then, very slowly, the boy turned to face her.

She covered her mouth with both hands.

It was like seeing someone out of a dream.

The boy's triangular face bore a fair, sandy complexion. His golden hair was more cropped and had shorter layers. Two matching golden eyebrows – both thin and sharp and perfectly angled – made his half-round, half-almond eyes stand out even more. Those pale pink lips rose into a smile Marinette knew all too well.

And speaking of eyes…

Green irises. The same pure, untarnished emerald green Marinette remembered. But the sclerae around them were was white as snow, and the pupils were like little black moons. When those eyes gazed upon Marinette, they lit up with unbound happiness.

Marinette lowered her hands and took one step forward. Then another. Each time, she squinted at that undoubtedly-princely face long and hard. Little by little, she saw traces of the young beast she knew and loved.

Finally, she spoke with the faintest, breathless whisper of awe. "Kitty…?"

The boy's smile curled up higher, and his eyes bore a childish air of mischief. "What's the matter, Milady?" he asked. "Cat got your tongue?"

That voice – like the brushing of summer leaves with a hint of soft trickling water. And that ridiculous pun that only he would say… especially after he had just gone up and died on her…

Marinette let out a shivering laugh, and her face lit up with joy and relief. "It is you!" she cried.

Adrien's grin softened into a loving smile.

Marinette didn't hold back anymore. She jolted forward and nearly tackled him as she threw her arms around his neck. Thankfully, Adrien caught her and held her tight, his new human arms just as strong and tender as she remembered. He buried his face against her neck, whispering her name again and again like a magic spell.

It broke the silence around them, and Theo let out a heavy sigh. "I don't believe it…!"

Alya was laughing and crying at the same time. "It's a miracle!" she blubbered.

Nino looked like he was going to burst into tears any second, though he hid it remarkably well behind his smile.

"YES!" Plagg shrieked with delight. He punched his claws into the air in triumph, his whiskers straightening as he twirled. "NYA-HA! SHE DID IT!"

Tikki cheered and sent little red fireworks popping everywhere. "He's alive! Oh, he's alive!"

Pollen and Nooroo joined hands and spun each other around, giggling like children and chanting, "She broke the spell! She broke the spell!"

Duusu was bawling uncontrollably, but this time it was tears of happiness she cried. "Si belle!" she whined. "Je suis très heureux!" She covered her large pink eyes with her tiny hands, and mini streams of water fell gushing from them like waterfalls.

Trixx twirled around like a ballerina before giving Wayzz a great big hug and a whopping kiss on the cheek, making the turtle fairy extremely uncomfortable.

Marinette barely heard any of them over the pounding in her ears and chest, or the soft purring of Adrien's voice as he muttered her name. His touch sent her mind skyrocketing, and her heart kept going somersaults every time he breathed.

Her Adrien, her Cat Noir… was alive! And he was human again! The spell had been broken!

He came back, just like she did!

He was home. They were both home.

But… Wait a minute…

Reluctantly, Marinette eased a little bit out of Adrien's tender hug to glance between his face and the fairies. "How?" she asked, knowing that single word held the full question.

Wayzz flew a little closer, his tiny smile as grand as ever. "The spell could only be broken," he explained, "if the young prince opened his heart once more to another, and earned her love in return. For a whole year, he dwelled in his beastly form, waiting for the one who would learn to see the beauty within." His grateful yellow eyes fell upon Marinette. "And then came a baker's daughter, who possessed a beautiful heart of her own. Who realized that there was more to her wretched host than his appearance claimed." Wayzz now looked at Adrien. "Who taught him to look past all his flaws and step back into the light."

Marinette blinked at the turtle fairy. The truth struck her little by little, like the rain that continued to drizzle. "So… the key to breaking the curse… was me?" She looked at Adrien. "It was me the whole time?"

"Hel-lo-oh!" Alya groaned from the threshold. "Am I the only human who figured it out?"

Nino and the fairies chuckled.

Adrien nodded at his lady, his expression carrying so much emotion. "You were the one, Marinette," he said, stroking her cheek so softly, it made her smile and close her eyes. "I set you free because I loved you enough to want you to be happy. But because you came back for me… and tried to save me… it showed that you loved me in return." His normal green eyes glistened, and he chuckled a bit. "There are no words to describe how much I… I… Just… no words at all."

Marinette smiled up at him teasingly. "Now whose tongue has the cat got?" she said.

Adrien laughed and nudged his forehead against hers. Marinette did the same, beaming with overwhelming joy.

She had done it. Against all odds, her love for Adrien had saved him. In more ways than one.

Someone beside them cleared his throat.

Marinette and Adrien both turned to see Theo Barbot now back on his feet, the former stiffening slightly.

The hunter was rubbing the back of his neck hard, like trying to squish a bug that had crawled up his spine. Theo's coffee-brown eyes were unnaturally warm now, but his forehead was creased with lines of worry.

Then, to the surprise of all, he fell swiftly onto one knee, with one hand folded over his chest and his head bowed so low his brown hair fell past his cheeks.

"Your Highness…" Theo said staunchly. "I humbly ask for your forgiveness. My foolishness led me astray, and I let my anger and jealousy overwhelm my common sense. Furthermore, I owe you my life. Please, accept my bow. I am yours to command. I will do anything to repay this debt."

Plagg snorted not-so-subtly. "Kiss up."

"Shhh!" Tikki hissed at him.

Marinette and Adrien exchanged a glance.

Then, the prince stepped over to stand over the kneeling hunter… and crouched down to his eye level. His hand – now with fingernails in place of claws – lifted Theo's head up by the chin.

"There is nothing to forgive, Monsieur Barbot," Adrien said, smiling with the air of a true noble. "Fear and anger can made monsters of us all. Take it from me. It's whether or not we choose to live as monsters that define us."

He stood back up and offered Theo a hand. The hunter stared at it thunderstruck, and then accepted it with a firm shake before rising to his feet.

Then, Theo's eyes found Marinette's, and his forehead creased again.

But Marinette remained calm and expressionless as she came over to stand by Adrien's side.

Theo bowed his head to her, like a knight to his queen. "I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, Marinette, but –"

"You're right," Marinette said, her voice sharp as ice. "You don't. In fact, you've never once asked me for anything at all. You never once listened to me. You just assumed I was some prized game to be chased and caught at your whim."

She heard Alya wince, and the exasperation on Theo's face melted into solemn acceptance.

Then… Marinette smiled. "But lucky for you, I'm not one to hold a grudge."

Theo looked back at her, his brows rising with relief. And when he saw that genuine smile, he decided to return it with one of his own. It made him less like a scraggly ruffian and more like a proper, noble hunter. "Then… will you accept my friendship instead?" he asked nervously.

For once, Marinette was happy to accept. She held out her hand to Theo, who took it and gave it a gentle shake, as though they were two new acquittances getting to know each other. It made her sincerely hope that Theo would find that missing piece in his life someday, and that it would be the right fit.

"Look!" Nooroo called. "The sun's coming up!"

Everyone looked to the horizon, which was already turning a citrusy shade of pink and orange. The great golden disc began to poke its head out from the distant veil of mountains, and the last remnants of the rainstorm sparkled like yellow diamonds falling from the sky. It was a bedazzling sight, almost as spectacular as the magical twister that had saved Adrien.

Marinette took her prince's hand in hers, and his fingers curled tight.

When they both turned to face each other, the rising sun bathed their already-illuminated faces in warm, buttery light. It made the gold in Adrien's hair glisten, and the blue in Marinette's eyes shine like rippling water.

Adrien's other hand found Marinette's waist, and hers reached up to rest upon his chest. She could feel his heart beat like a drum through her fingers. That alone was a treasure of its own.

Just like Adrien's loving smile. "My lady," he purred.

Marinette's soundless laugh made her own smile broaden. "My kitty," she said.

Then, the beauty and the beast kissed each other passionately in the light of the enchanted sky.