So, I am not French. I have never sung the French National Anthem. My apologies if I got the one line featured in this chapter wrong.

Also, I do not own the National Anthem of France, or Miraculous Ladybug.

Chapter 27: Horrificator, Part 2

Ladybug swung her yo-yo in a circle and deflected the blast of goo.

"I'm not afraid of you," Ladybug called.

Horrificator growled and shot another blast of goo. Ladybug leaned back on her bad ankle just enough to cause her to stumble, and she ended up being thrown back by the goo.

Horrificator bounded towards Ladybug as the superhero tried to sit back up. The goo was strong, and Ladybug was trapped.

Horrificator roared in Ladybug's face, and the monster's breath smelled like Kim's gym socks.

Ladybug's mind raced. How was she going to free herself?

Could she sing Smelly Wolf all by herself? Was there some way to break the slime?

And where was Chat Noir?

"You have no power against me, Mylene," Ladybug said. "I'm not scared of you. And I think you're brave, Mylene - one of the bravest people I know."

Horrificator blinked, momentarily confused.

Slowly, Ladybug retracted her yo-yo. "You don't need Hawkmoth to make you brave, Mylene."

Horrificator took a step back, as if unsure, but Hawkmoth's mask appeared around her face and Ladybug knew her time was up.

"Lucky charm!"

Chloe made a big deal of plugging her nose and making a face.

"It's not that bad," Kim argued.

"It's the boy's locker room," Chloe replied. "Of course it stinks."

Adrien slid his back up against the wall, and slowly began creeping towards the bathroom. It would be hard to transform in there, but he couldn't let the chance-

"Dude, do you see this video?" Nino asked, putting his arm around Adrien. "I can totally win the film contest with this!"

He played a short video of Horrificator roaring.

"Would you try to take this seriously?" Chloe asked. "We're under attack. My hair is ruined."

"What a tragedy," Alya muttered.

Adrien leaned his head against the wall. He could hear Horrificator roaring, and he hoped Ladybug was doing okay. Especially since it looked like he would be stuck for a little while longer.

The Unclocker's bad luck powers seemed to extend beyond the actual battle. Adrien had never had problems sneaking away before, at least not like this. But now, every time he moved away someone found him.

There was no chance to slip away. At least, not yet.

Ladybug slipped the long beam, her lucky charm, under the goo, and used her legs to pull it down.

The solid goo cracked, and Ladybug was free again.

She barely had time to raise her yo-yo to block Horrificator's next attack.

Horrificator roared as Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around the railing across the courtyard. She pushed off with her good foot and sailed over the courtyard.

Making sure not to put weight on her bad ankle, Ladybug landed in the courtyard. Her earrings beeped, reminding her that she needed to recharge. That is, if she even had food.

But first, she needed someway to occupy Horrificator while she was recharging.

Ladybug scanned the courtyard, trying to figure out if there was some way to trap Horrificator.

But she didn't have much time to plan, because Horrificator landed behind her.

Ladybug swung her yo-yo and deflected another blast of goo, but was caught off-guard when Horrificator used her tail to smack Ladybug.

With a yelp, Ladybug was thrown into the wall of the courtyard. She tumbled back onto the ground, needing a moment to catch her breath.

Horrificator roared again. Ladybug stood up and faced Horrificator.

"You have really bad breath, you know," Ladybug said.

Horrificator snarled, as if insulted. She swiped again with her tail, bur Ladybug easily ducked and the tail sailed over her head, making her pigtails bounce.

Ladybug's earrings beeped again, and a little bit of worry gnawed in her stomach. She couldn't get away without leaving the her classmates defenseless.

Apparently, that was enough to make Horrificator grow.

Control yourself. She feeds off of fear - even mine. Don't let her grow.

Ladybug straightened her shoulders and looked Horrificator straight in the eye. "I'm not scared of you, if that's what you're thinking."

Horrificator roared again, and Ladybug dodged another tail swipe.

I need a plan, Ladybug thought. She scanned the courtyard again. What could help her?

Ladybug swung her yo-yo and wrapped it around the railings on the other side of the courtyard. With a tug, she was in the air, with Horrificator in her path. She slammed both feet into Horrificator's chest, causing the akuma victim to top backwards and fall down.

Horrificator roared as Ladybug landed on the hallway.

Ladybug's ankle screamed in pain, and she made a mental note to start kicking things with her good foot only.

Peering over the edge of the railing, Ladybug watched Horrificator struggle to stand up. Once she was on her feet again, Horrificator turned to Ladybug and roared in her direction.

Now, for her plan.

Which was cut off when something went thunk in the direction of the locker rooms.

Horrificator gave Ladybug the stink eye before bounding off in the other direction.

"She must be going after the rest of the class," Ladybug realized.

Disregarding her plan, Ladybug used her yo-yo to swing back into the courtyard and chased after Horrificator.

Adrien had his chance to sneak off. He began sliding in the direction of the bathrooms when he noticed Alya peaking out of the door.

"Alya!" Adrien abandoned his wall position and walked up behind Alya. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Alya demanded. "I'm getting video."

"You're going to get us all killed," Chloe added, walking up next to Adrien. She grabbed Alya's shoulder and tried to pull her back from the door.

Alya pushed Chloe's hand away. "Don't touch me."

"Don't get us all killed!" Chloe replaced her hand and tugged Alya harder.

Alya snarled and stood up. "Ladybug can handle this."

Chloe huffed. "I know that."

"Let's not make her job any harder," Adrien interjected. "Alya, please close the door. Please."

Alya deflated and closed the door. But, despite her gentle movement, the door banged shut.

The whole class winced as one being.

"Great," Chloe complained. "Now she definitely knows where we are."

"What are we going to do?" Kim asked.

"Stay calm," Adrien said.

"How?" Alix demanded. "There's a slime monster chasing us!"

"Uh, maybe sing a song?" Adrien suggested. "That's supposed to calm us down."

"Good idea," Alya replied.

"Not happening," Chloe added.

"We're doing this," Alya decided.

"But what song?" Nino asked. "I doubt we all have the same music tastes."

"You're the DJ, Nino," Adrien said. "You pick."

"Okay," Nino replied. "How about something like... the national anthem?"

Chloe scoffed. "Seriously?"

"Good enough for me," Alya said. "Alright everybody."

"Allons enfants de la Patrie."

More Horrificator soon to come!