Chapter Seventeen

A/N: It's the freaking finale. I started this back in September on the bus and wow. I've honestly had no idea where I've been going with this story but hey. It's finally finished. It's finished. There's still the reveal/epilogue, of course, because I'm not so cruel as to just leave you like this, but this is my last story in this universe. Note: more character death. It's been a hell of a ride, guys, and for the (second to) last time, on with the story!

Finale

Annabeth leans back in her desk. Today is a good day. Today is an excellent day. Today, Helen is officially losing custody of her. Thalia nudges her.

"Hey, Kelli's back!"

Good day ruined.

Annabeth gives an awkward wave.

"Hey, Kelli." She supposes that she can live and let live. Other than being an awful liar, Kelli hasn't really done much. Kelli, spotting her, shrieks and rushes at her, tackling her in a hug.

"Omigod, Annabeth, how are you? Does it feel good? Are you happy?"

"The hell are you talking about?" Percy snipes. He seems to have a deep-seated loathing for Kelli, the origin of which Annabeth is unsure. Kelli pauses, putting on a sympathetic face.

"Well, she's finally away from her abusive mother, isn't she?"

"What?" The class collectively gasps, staring at Annabeth. She clenches her fists. This wasn't supposed to happen. Luke stands, crossing over to her and slamming his palms on the desk.

"Helen was hitting you?!" he demands. Annabeth glares at him.

"Why do you care?" He runs his hands through his hair, backing away.

"I just- I care, okay? More than I should," he snaps out, sitting back in his seat. The rest of the class crowds around her. She feels suffocated.

"It's totally okay, Annabeth, I worked with several abused children and actually was one myself-" Annabeth cuts her off. She can take lies that just make Kelli look better. She can take lies about Kelli knowing her. But Kelli has no right to say that, just pretend to understand what Annabeth is going through.

"Shut the hell up," Annabeth snaps. The class snaps, and Kelli squeezes a few tears out. Annabeth doesn't give her a chance to speak. "You were not abused. You have never been abused, because if you were you would know that the last thing I want is attention on me because of it. It happened, and I'm done, and if any of you actually want to help and not just pry your noses into my personal life, then believe me for once. Without proof. Kelli is a liar, has always been a liar, and probably will continue being a liar." Hades speaks behind her.

"I agree with Annabeth. You haven't been abused. I have." Annabeth turn to look at him. Persephone is hugging him and he has his arms around her. He nods at Annabeth. She nods back.

"I just recovered well," Kelli claims. "Not everyone has the same recovery rate or experiences."

"That's true. But recovery doesn't including having it out for a fellow victim, on the basis of their child abuse." Thalia speaks up, eyes snapping.

"You had no right doing that. Get the hell out of here." Kelli, faced with an entire classroom of angry students, does, slamming the door behind her. The class is silent for a moment.

"She's been expelled," Luke says form his seat. Percy raises an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I texted the principal, pulled some strings. She's not coming back." The class begins clamoring but as Mr. Blowfis walks in, they settle down and continue with their day. Annabeth exchanges glances with Percy. She's gone.


Jinx lands on a rooftop after a particularly annoying akuma. It was a fairly easy fight, and she never used Cataclysm. Luckybug lands behind her.

"Any leads?" he asks. She shakes her head.

"Not a one." He plops down, timer minutes from running out. He doesn't care.

"I am so tired of this. We need to just pin her down, y'know? How difficult can she be to track down?" Someone else makes a noise and they both whirl around. What they're expecting to see is a handyman or tenant, coming up for a various reason and overhearing the plans of superheroes. What they get is worse. Kalapin gives them an awkward wave.

"Hey, guys." Luckybug's yoyo flashes and Jinx's staffs twirl and he's pinned in a second.

"How much did you hear?" Jinx snarls. Kalapin wiggles around and Luckybug jerks the yoyo line.

"All of it. But that doesn't matter!" he adds hastily. "I'm here to tell you who Kronos is." Luckybug is so shocked that he drops his yoyo, and Jinx isn't much better.

"Yeah, right," she stutters out. "You're not actually. It's a trap." He shrugs as best as he can tied up and on his back.

"I'll tell you right here, right now. No conditions. Hell, I'll even-" he starts coughing. Jinx and Luckybug watch him silently. He finishes up, spittle trailing down his chin. "Helen Chase. She's Helen Chase, and her base is a small observatory on the grounds of her mansion. Luckybug sees Jinx's eyes widen and then narrow.

"Jinx, no!" he shouts. It's too late. She's off, heading towards the mansion, Distracted, he releases Kalapin, who runs as well. He curses. "Stupid, stupid, noble cat."


Jinx is flying. If what Kalapin said is true, then Helen has some serious karma coming for her. Jinx is happy to be that karma. She stops on the roof, angles her staff, and crashes into the large, butterfly shaped window. She rolls to a halt and swipes up on her staff, creating a screen. She calls Luckybug. He doesn't answer, probably busy retransforming to come and help her. That;s okay. She starts recording a voicemail.

"Hey, Luckybug. Kalapin's info seems good, this is definitely an evil hideout of some sort." She pauses, looking around. A whirring noise backs her duck behind a pillar. She peeks out. "She's possibly coming up; stand by." As an elevator rises, Kronos comes into view. Muttering to herself, she stalks across the floor to stand in the very center.

"Where is that boy? I told him to prepare for another akuma." Jinx stays silent, recording everything. Kronos- Helen- sighs. The elevator clatters again and Kalapin steps out. He fiddles with his fan.

"Sorry for being late. My dad wanted me," he says. Lies, but he dishes them out like candy. Kronos takes it.

"Excellent. Would you like to create a Sentimonster, for practice? You can even make it look like Annabeth, just for fun. And target practice." Kalapin wrinkles his brow.

"I- no. No." Kronos shrugs.

"Fine with me. Now, let's get going. We'll need a more useful Sentimonster than her." Kalapin looks like he wants to argue- how the hell does he know her anyways?- but stays silent. Everything is going perfectly, and would've gone fine, but no. Luckybug just had to call her. The phone rings in the dead silent room and Luckybug's voice echoes from her staff before she can close it.

"Jinx, what the hell?" He doesn't get any further than that before she slams the screen down, cutting him off. The damage is done.

"Where are you, little girl?" Kronos calls out, eyes flashing. Jinx decides that it's useless to hide. She steps out, standing tall.

"Right here. The gig's up, Kronos, or should I say Helen." Kronos, to her credit, looks remarkably calm about being called out.

"No proof."

"I'm a superhero," Jinx counters. They glare at each other like schoolchildren for a moment before Kronos throws herself at Jinx. Jinx spins out of the way, avoiding her. For a moment, she freezes. All she sees is Helen, coming at her again. But this time, she's not going to take it. Jinx drops to the ground, swiping Kronos' legs out from under her and popping up. As Kronos pulls herself up, Jinx darts in, punching her in the nose. That felt good. Kronos staggers back, pulling out her saber-cane.

"Do something, you fool!" she shouts at Kalapin. He steps back.

"No. You can't continue like this, Helen. It's not worth it." Kalapin screams with rage, striking at him with her cane. He drops, blade buried in his chest. Jinx runs over to him. He helped them, and he doesn't deserve this. Kalapin paws weakly at his Miraculous. "Take it," he rasps. Jinx pulls it off him gently, cradling him. Blue light flashes and Luke's face appears. Jinx gasps.

"Luke?" she whispers. He nods, struggling to take in breath. He looks up and his eyes widen.

"Behind you." Reflected in Jinx's baton is Kronos, approaching them with her cane raised. Jinx rolls over Luke, flipping them around just in time for the cane to hit right where they had been seconds earlier. A yoyo zips by them. Luckybug. He lands and begins attacking right away, understanding that Jinx needs a few more moments with Luke, even if he's not sure why exactly Luke is on the floor to begin with. Luke grasps her hand gently.

"Do you...know me?" he works out. Glancing around, Jinx decides to go for it. Her first childhood friend lies here dying. She leans in close to him and cups her hands around his ear.

"I'm Annabeth." His eyes widen and he laughs a little.

"Did you ever love me?" he asks, his breaths coming shorter now.

"Not like that Luke. But you were my best friend," she tells him, a tear slipping out of her eye. He's too young, so damn young. His whole life before him. Jinx cries for what he could've been as he releases a final breath, lips turned up and eyes closed. She shifts him onto the floor gently, then stands up. Her thighs are covered in Luke's blood. She races in, fighting with both staffs. "You'll pay for that, Kronos!" she cries, swiping away tears. Kronos cackles.

"Aw, did you love him? Superboy over here will be so disappointed." Jinx ignores Luckybug's reaction.

"No one deserves to die in high school. Not even you, Kronos." She pauses, pretending to tap her chin as Kronos' fists jab at her and miss as she dodges. "Well, maybe." Kronos snarls and catches Luckybug's yoyo. She jerks it, tipping him off balance. Jinx looks over at him, worried, and that's all the time Kronos needs. She pins Jinx down, hand inching towards her ring.

"Give it up, little girl. You're just playing at superheroes." Jinx spits at her.

"Cataclysm!" Kronos scrambles to get off of her, but Jinx grabs her cane. It disintegrates and Kronos howls. Luckybug, yoyo back in hand, throws it around her. She's finally caught.

"Lucky charm!" Luckybug calls. A pair of handcuffs fall into his hands, and he nods at Jinx. "I'll hold her down. You put 'em on." Jinx stares at him.

"But...I usually hold them down." Luckybug shrugs.

"And I don't want you getting hurt again if she pulls something. If you really want to-" Jinx waves her hands, cutting him off as she takes the handcuffs from him.

"No, no! It's fine! I was just confused," she says, blush on her face as she approaches Kronos. Luckybug pulls the yoyo tighter and rolls Kronos over as she thrashes.

"It's no wonder you two haven't caught me beforehand. Amateurs," she snorts. Jinx clasps the hand cuffs on her wrists.

"I would rather be defeated by professionals, but sure! I agree. You're so that bad that a couple of sixteen year olds can beat you." Kronos begins to retort. Luckybug drowns her out, dialing the police.

"Hello?" Thalia's brother, Jason.

"Hey, Jason. We've caught Kronos. Can you be at Helen Chase's mansion in a few minutes with cameras?" Jason sputters.

"Who is this?" he demands.

"Luckybug. And no media." Luckybug hears Jason sigh.

"If this is a prank, you'll be in serious trouble," he warns. Luckybug smirks.

"I don't think we're the ones you have to worry about." He hangs up and dusts his hands off. "That's that. Jinx, do you mind going up and showing the police here? The layout might be confusing, but I think you can get the hang of it," he says. Jinx laughs- what was so funny?- and nods.

"Yeah, I got this." She heads down to the elevator and flashes her middle finger at Kronos, who flopped over to watch, as she ascends. Luckybug sits down criss-cross-applesauce.

"Just you and me, huh Kronos? Usually this is where you tell me your Tragic Backstory™." He puts finger quotes around 'tragic backstory' and Kronos rolls her eyes.

"My parents were murdered when I was young by a pair of superheroes and I became Kronos to make use of people feeling how I felt and also trying to take down the vigilantes on the side of 'good'." Luckybug' jaw drops.

"That's...wow. Are you okay, Kronos? Do you need a hug?" Kronos snarls and flops around more.

"No, you ignorant boy! That was obviously fake. God, heroes these days. They're not even pretty anymore!" Luckybug makes a face.

"Hey!" They both stay silent for a few minutes. "So what is your backstory?" Luckybug asks again. He's kinda curious, to be honest.

"I don't have one. My parents are normal, boring, middle-class average civilians. I haven't interacted with hardly any superheroes. I just want world domination. Is that too much to ask?" Luckybug leans towards her, propping his chin on his steepled fingers.

"Then why do that? Why all this? I haven't forgotten, you know. How you akumatized all my friends. How you wrecked my city. How you murdered a sixteen year old boy that you manipulated into working for you. How you akumatized me." He laughs at the confused look on her face. "Oh, yeah, did Jinx not tell you about her little adventure to the future? She went. I was akumatized. You murdered her. I definitely haven't forgotten that bit." He stands, pacing around the lair. The yoyo extends its string obligingly, never cutting the slack on the line. "So what was it for, Kronos? What was the point? If you stand for nothing, what'll you fall for?"

"Hamilton," she mutters. He nods.

"Yeah. I'm cultured. Not the point." Kronos glares at him.

"I stand for finally, finally getting to do what I want with no repercussions. For being able to cut ties with my useless idiot of a stepdaughter. I want people to be afraid of me. Afraid of what I can do if they even think the wrong thing." Kronos has a fanatical gleam in her eye.

"You disgust me," Luckybug says, with all the motion he can muster. "That is disgusting, and I can't wait for you to be locked up. Maybe they'll even have a National holiday for it and people will go around singing 'ding dong, the witch is locked away.' Sound nice?" Kronos snorts.

"Quite." The elevator rattles and several police officers in riot gear charge in. They are dealing with a terrorist after all. Luckybug recalls his yoyo, walking away and letting the police do their job. Jinx stops him from getting out of the lair completely.

"Someone leaked it to the press. They're already here." His triumphant expression falls.

"Inside?" She shakes her head.

"No, not yet. I'm pretty sure they know it's Helen- do you want to reveal on national news or privately for court records?" Luckybug sighs.

"Honestly, I wish Annabeth Chase was here. She should have a say." Jinx flushes, although he's not sure why.

"I'm sure she'll be fine with whatever you decide. I am." Luckybug ponders this for a moment. On the one hand, she has a successful career with many people working under her that, if this goes south and affects her company, could lose their jobs, but on the other hand she definitely deserves it.

"Private. Let's do it right now." Jinx nods, leading him over to where Kronos is even more securely chained up. They have a camera trained on her, recording what's happening. Several officers have their phones out, and Luckybug's not sure if he wants them to post it on social media or not. "We're removing her Miraculous," he says to Jason, who nods and lets him and Jinx move forward. He glances over to the side, where Luke's body is being carried out. "Hold on, officers!" he says loudly, and they pause. He takes his Lucky Charm off of Kronos. "Miraculous ladybug!" Nothing happens, save his Lucky Charm vanishing in a swirl of ladybugs. Jinx pats his arm.

"I think it's because Kronos wasn't using her powers. You tried, Lucky." He nods, trying not to look at the elevator as it descends.

"It's time to pay up, Kronos." He steps forward and pauses as his hand hovers over her Miraculous. He takes a step back. "You should do it, Jinx."

Jinx nods. She'll finally see what Luke told her, one of his last heroic acts before dying, for herself. Helen and Kronos, the same person. She leans forward, gently unpinning the Butterfly Miraculous. Purple bubbles wash over her form and there sits Helen Chase. She sneers at everyone.

"You got me. Happy, you little do-gooders?" Jinx nods at her.

"Very." She's not, of course. There was always a small part of her that wanted Helen to change, believed that she could. Maybe it's because Helen is Annabeth's last living family. Maybe it's because Helen is the only mother figure that Annabeth has. But that's not true anymore. She has Piper, and Sally Jackson, and now she can finally let go of Helen. She heads into the elevator, Luckybug at her side. He leans against the wall, cufflinks beeping in time with her ring.

"You're about to run out," he says.

"You too," she counters.

"Eyes closed kwami feeding, one at a time so the other can make sure that the elevator stays closed?" Jinx looks at him oddly.

"I mean…Kronos is defeated. We can reveal. You've always wanted to." Luckybug looks at her fondly.

"I want it to be special. I'm still thinking of something, but it'll come to me." She laughs, shaking her head.

"Alright, silly boy. Close your eyes. Plagg, claws in!" She transforms back into Annabeth, practically shoving cheese down Plagg's throat. He hiccups.

"Oi, what's the rush?" he whines.

"Shut up and eat your Camembert," she mutters, slamming her fist on the button to keep the doors closed. "Plagg, claws out!" She transforms back, sitting down cross-legged and closing her eyes in turn as Luckybug detransforms. The light of his transformation flashes in front of her, muted by her eyelids.

"Are you, okay, Jinx?" his kwami squeaks. Luckybug must've poked her, because she lets out a giggle-shriek.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Luckybug asks.

"I didn't say anything," Tikki mumbles through her cookie. Luckybug scoffs.

"Sure...Tikki, spots on!" The light flashes again and Jinx opens her eyes. Same old partner. He extends a hand to her and she takes it, standing.

"Ready to face the crowd?" she asks. He nods, pressing the 'open doors' button. They blink at the bright light streaming into Helen's office. Jinx crosses the floor first, Luckybug at her side. They reach the doors to the entrance of the mansion, and Jinx takes a deep breath. "Let's go." She opens the doors and the sound of clamoring reporters fills her ears. She spots Apollo among them and goes to him first.

"Luckybug! Jinx! Is it true that you've defeated Kronos?" he asks excitedly. Around him, the crowd quiets, desperate for the answer.

"Yes. We have her Miraculous and Kalapin's Miraculous. No further comments," she says firmly. Apollo nods.

"Right. One last one, if I may? Has your relationship with each other changed?" Jinx furrows her brows.

"Uhh, no?" Apollo gestures at their still joined hands.

"Right. Sorry." He backs away and the other sharks surround them as Jinx lets go of Luckybug's hand. They're instantly pulled apart and she stand on her tippy toes, trying to look above the adults.

"Jinx! Who was the body they carried out?"

"Who's Kronos? Is she someone famous?"

"Is she Helen Chase?"

"No further comments!" Jinx shouts, drawing her staffs and extending them as she hangs on, carrying her up and away. She surveys the crowd. There. He's also trapped and she breaks one of her staffs apart, banging them together. He looks up and she makes a throwing gesture with her hand. He nods, getting his yoyo ready. As he draws his arm back, she shortens her staff, attaching both to her back again, and falls. He swings next to her, scooping her out of the air, and they land on a roof seamlessly. They start running, escaping the reporters and ending up on the Eiffel Tower. Jinx leans against a bar, thoroughly exhausted.

"Reveal tomorrow?" she asks. Luckybug thinks quickly.

"Uh, yeah. Here. Eleven pm. Wear a mask before you detransform, like a masquerade ball?" Jinx smirks.

"Sure thing." She leaps off, heading towards Thalia's house. If he wants a masquerade ball, he'll get a masquerade ball. She sneaks into the house. Thalia and Piper are watching the news. Piper turns quickly, beaming.

"Oh, there you are! Listen, people are taking to the streets and celebrating. I know it's a school night, but if you guys want to get into jeans or something and grab a mask, we can go." Thalia grins.

"That sounds awesome- but a mask?"

"In celebration of Luckybug and Jinx. I ran out and got some. Red, green, and black!"

"Green!" Thalia immediately calls.

"Black." Annabeth thinks that's fitting.

"And I'll take red, I guess," Piper says. "Let's go."

As they enter the streets of Paris, people are dancing, laughing, singing. They're hugging each other and all around them are calls of victory. Paris is finally free, and so is Annabeth.


A/N: We came. We read. We cringed at the grammar and (non-existent) plot. But we conquered. At least, I did- first finished story(even if when you read this it won't be finished for you). Thank you guys so much for sticking with me on this journey and look for a much better, more thought-out, better spell-checked story in the Miraculous fandom sometime in March.

-shadydemigirl