I'm back! But I'm reaching finals now, so I might disappear again for a few weeks. But this story will not die!
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.
Chapter 36: Mime, Part 1
Ladybug anxiously watched the horizon. She was not looking forward to this one. After her lucky charm had failed last time, she was even more nervous about facing down an akuma with The Unclocker's powers against her.
Her thoughts were distracted when a stray cat bumped into Alya's phone, and Ladybug once again had to dig around in the trash for it.
"Cats are nothing but trouble," Ladybug muttered, ignoring the sense of deja vu.
"I don't know about that, my lady," Chat Noir commented, landing next to Ladybug. "Any sign of the Mime yet?"
"Not yet," Ladybug replied, dropping Alya's phone back into the trash. "I wouldn't mind it if he took his time." The sentiment was ruined when a police car rammed into the wall. "Or not."
Ladybug and Chat Noir ran up to the police car, which didn't have the decency to land right side up this time, and helped Officer Raincomprex out.
"Are you okay, sir?" Ladybug asked.
"Yes," the police officer replied. "Thanks to you two."
"Ladybug?" Chat Noir said. "He's here."
Ladybug turned just as Mime aimed a bow. An invisible arrow thudded against the car, barely missing Ladybug.
Ladybug spun her yo-yo, deflecting the arrows. She swung it, wrapping it around the invisible bow, and yanked it out of Mime's hands.
Mime scowled. He mimed stepping up, sitting down, and revving an engine.
"We should move," Chat Noir noted.
The engine roared, and Ladybug and Chat Noir darted out of the way. Mime pretended to drive as he moved forward, and whatever vehicle he was in collided with the police car and sent the car flying.
Ladybug swung her yo-yo at Mime, and it caught his wrist. She yanked, and Mime was pulled toward her.
With his free hand, Mime mimicked a huge pair of scissors, and tried to cut the yo-yo's string.
Thankfully, the yo-yo string didn't cut, and all Mime managed to do was tumble to the ground as the invisible vehicle disappeared.
Chat Noir extended his baton and vaulted himself over Mime. He landed behind Mime and reached for the hat.
Mime mimicked launching a grenade, and Ladybug didn't have time to move before an explosion knocked her off her feet. She landed hard on her back.
Ladybug forced herself back up and retrieved her yo-yo.
Chat Noir was fighting Mime - baton against invisible sword. Ladybug was impressed that Chat Noir was keeping up, as tired as he had to be.
Ladybug swung her yo-yo, and Mime knocked it away with his invisible sword. Chat Noir took the opportunity to extend his baton towards the hat. Mime ducked just in time. He paused, then mimicked putting on a backpack, pushed a button where the strap would be, and lifted off.
"Is he using a jet pack?" Chat Noir asked. "That is so not fair."
"We need to follow him," Ladybug said. She swung her yo-yo, catching it on the invisible jet pack. "Need a lift?"
"If you would be so kind," Chat Noir replied.
She grabbed onto Chat Noir, and two were lifted off the ground.
Mime glanced behind him, and grimaced when he saw Ladybug and Chat Noir attached.
He can't do anything, Ladybug realized. Or his jet pack will disappear.
She looked to Chat Noir. "I think we have him stuck."
Chat Noir grinned. "Then let's go get that hat."
The moment was ruined when Mime made another motion, and the three of them all began falling down.
"I spoke too soon," Ladybug noted. "I guess we need to prepare for a rough landing."
Chat Noir nodded and extended his baton. He tossed it toward the street, where it caught on the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around the baton, tightening it as they landed.
They stopped falling a good couple feet above the ground, and Ladybug slowly lowered them to the ground.
Mime fell a few yards in front of them, and hit something bouncy as he landed.
"It's over, Mime!" Ladybug yelled, swinging her yo-yo.
Mime mimed a wall in front of him, blocking Ladybug and Chat Noir from following him.
"Now we have to wait until he mimes something else," Ladybug muttered.
"Maybe not," Chat Noir noted. "We know where he's heading."
"You're right!" Ladybug agreed. "We need to find that bus."
The Unclocker paced as she waited.
"Patience," Hawkmoth reminded her. "Remember, soon none of this will have ever happened."
"Of course," The Unclocker replied. "You'll have your jewelry, and Paris will no longer have to put up with them or you."
"That's right," Hawkmoth agreed. "It's them who've drawn this battle out. If they'd given in long ago, Paris would be free of the constant disturbances."
"But if they won't give up, then we have to make it difficult for them to win," The Unclocker said.
"They still will," Alya called.
The Unclocker frowned and turned to her. "This time, maybe. Maybe next time. But they can't keep winning. They'll tire out, the Hawkmoth of that time will win, and I would never have had to deal with this brat-" she pointed dramatically at Chloe- "so it's a win-win."
"And what will today look like if Hawkmoth wins?" Alya questioned.
"Better," The Unclocker replied.
Ladybug saw the bus first.
"Good eyes, milady," Chat Noir noted. "Let's go get them out of harms way."
Ladybug and Chat Noir jumped from the roof, just to be knocked down mid-air by and invisible force.
Ladybug landed roughly on her arm, and was nearly hit by an oncoming car.
"Sorry, Ladybug!" The random citizen called.
"It's fine," Ladybug replied, pushing herself off the ground. She was surprised to find that she was soaking wet.
"He must be using a hose," Chat Noir said, appearing above the cars as he stood up. "You know, cats aren't a big fan of water."
Ladybug chuckled. "Don't worry. The water should dry the next time he mimes something. Right now, we need to focus on the bus."
"How about you go distract Mime and I'll get the bus to safety," Chat Noir suggested, shaking his head like a wet dog.
"I think you make a better distraction," Ladybug countered. "Don't worry, water won't hurt you."
Chat Noir sighed. "As you wish, milady." He extended his baton and vaulted towards Mime.
Ladybug turned her attention to the bus. "Let's see what challenges the acting troupe are going to give me."
Credit to my roommate for helping come up with ideas for this and the next chapter!