Short chapter today, but I needed to set the foundations for the rest of the story. Next chapter will be more interesting

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. All rights to their respective owners.

Chapter 2: The Unclocker, Part 2

Ladybug knew it was a trap the second she landed in the room.

"Where is everyone?" Chat Noir asked, automatically turning to cover Ladybug's back.

"No idea," Ladybug replied. She slowly walked through the room, watching for any signs of what had happened.

She must have triggered something, because a couple steps later, the lights went off.

Chat Noir grabbed her arm and pushed her down, and Ladybug hit the floor right as the lights turned back on.

Something smashed against the wall behind Ladybug. She looked the other way and saw The Unclocker smirking at them, a pile of dishes at her foot.

"A bowl?" Chat Noir taunted. "Is that the best you can do?"

The Unclocker raised her hands in a mock surrender. "Perhaps you should try to touch me, see who had the upper hand."

Ladybug, already knowing what was going to happen, threw her yoyo at The Unclocker. As she predicted, it flew right through her.

"Great," Char Noir muttered.

"You can't touch me," The Unclocker stated, picking up a dish. "But I can touch you."

Ladybug and Chat Noir were both forced duck as the plate soared over them.

"So, you can't win," The Unclocker continued. "And I don't have any battle-like powers, so I doubt I can win. So we're at a standstill. Well, except for one thing."
The Unclocker snapped her fingers, and slowly her captives blurred into view.

And, of course, Alya was the one gagged at her feet.

"I have a proposition to make," The Unclocker said. "You need to free the captives. I need to tire you out. So, we can make a deal. For every one of my challenges you complete, I will release one captive."

Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged looks.

"Doesn't sound like we much choice," Chat Noir stated. Ladybug nodded.

"And what would these challenges be?" Ladybug asked.

The Unclocker smiled. "Glad you asked. The challenge is simple - go back in time and defeat all the old akumas. Except this time, luck isn't on your side."

Ladybug gritted her teeth. For several of the old akumas, she wasn't sure luck had been on there side in the first place.

The Unclocker laughed. "Don't worry, you can choose which to fight. Though you will run out of choices soon. And anytime you want to give up - well, you know what the price is. So, who do you want to fight first?"

Ladybug turned to Chat Noir. "Any ideas?"

"Stoneheart, maybe?" Chat Noir suggested. "He was an easier one."

Ladybug frowned. "He nearly killed Mylene and Chloe."

"Only the second time," Chat Noir said. "If we beat him right the first time around, we can avoid that."

"There's also the fact that he was akumitised before we - or at least before I got my miraculous," Ladybug agree. "That sounds a little too much like playing with fate."

"True," Chat Noir agreed. "But still, I think he was the easiest to beat - neither of us had any idea what we were doing and we still managed to defeat him pretty quickly."

"You're probably right," Ladybug decided. "But the thought still makes me uneasy."

"This whole thing makes me uneasy," Chat Noir replied. "You can't think of any way to fight her straight on, can you?"

Ladybug shook her head. "Maybe these challenges will give us enough time to think of something."

"So have you come to an agreement?" The Unclocker called.

Ladybug nodded. "I think we have. We choose Stoneheart."

"Good. Now close your eyes."

Ladybug exchanged a worried look with Chat Noir before obeying. It seemed like a horrible idea, but if it was the only way to save the hostages...

Wind started to pick up, and soon all Ladybug could feel was the wind. It felt like she was floating in mid-air, and she began to panic when she felt her transformation wear off.

"Now open your eyes."

Ladybug opened her eyes, and gasped as all feeling rushed back to her body.

Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews that have been left so far! I'm very surprised, and I hope this story will go on to earn all the responses!