A/N: Sorry for the short chapter last time, I was so stumped! Usually I have songs that I listen to that help me to write this stuff, but yesterday I was listening to songs that weren't helping. Plus when a story nears its end I start to write in the shortest and briefest ways, especially when I lose inspiration.
Anyway, today I'm listening to the write songs and I should be able to write a decently lengthed chapter.
Hope you all enjoy,
D.L.D
Bunnix groaned as she massaged her temples. She'd been trying to wrap her head around this whole situation for a while now and still she had no solution. Endless time frames and loops gave her no answer as to what she needed to do.
"Going to the past and future clearly isn't helping," The pinkette sighed as she approached the burrow that would lead to the present, "I guess I'll just have to figure everything out from the present..."
Looking around herself one last time, the heroine stepped into the burrow hoping that Adrien and Nino were doing something productive.
It was night time. Lila still had heard no words from her daughter and by now she was beginning to suspect the worst. Celeste had been quiet, too quiet, and it was causing the young woman's mind to spiral.
"I knew I shouldn't have told her Nooroo," The woman sighed, "Who knows what's happening now?"
"I think Celeste's doing what's right Lila," The kwami spoke, "You need to let go of that grudge you hold. It's over..."
"It's not a grudge," The brunette scowled, "It's what I deserve."
"Then why do you deserve it?" Nooroo quizzed, "Why do you desire what you want so much?"
"I- I...she-" Lila hesitated as she cast her gaze away from the kwami.
He knew all too well what the woman was going through, she was at a crossroads and now she was uncertain. If she took the wrong path she'd be beyond redemption, but if she took the right one there was still a glimmer of hope. This was what all his corrupted chosen went through and most chose the wrong path scared of what everyone would think if they came clean...
"If you don't know why you want it," Nooroo sighed, "Then maybe you don't want it anymore..."
Lila looked at the usually timid kwami, her green eyes wide with surprise. Deep down Lila knew that he was right, but she couldn't admit to it. She couldn't. She'd been lying for so long that it became natural for her. Natural for her to hide from herself and build a shell that represented her. Something that wasn't her at all.
"You know," The kwami smiled softly, "You're the kindest chosen I've had in a while. The rest...were tyrants: conquer or be conquered. They were never satisfied with what they had, never happy. Even Gabriel had some of those qualities. But you still have a chance of redemption Lila. Even if you don't think so yourself, you can always go back to the heroes. They'll appreciate it if you come clean instead of fighting back all the time."
The room remained silent as the female pondered on the kwami's words. In a way he was right, but she was scared to admit the truth. To tell her former friends why she really betrayed them. It all seemed so childish and everyone had thought that she was beyond that. The woman often hid these things from herself, making the truth twisted and her lies real. There was no way she could look her former friends in the eyes. Not when she was afraid to admit the truth to herself...
"I can never go back to them Nooroo," A tear splashed onto the floor, "You know why."
In complete silence Lila exited the room leaving the kwami alone.
"I did my best," Nooroo sighed as he shook his head, "I guess I failed. Again..."
"You really think that would work?" Nino raised a brow as he looked at Celeste.
"My mother's whole plan revolves around Carapace and Chat Noir not being able to function without Ladybug and Rena Rouge," The teen ran a hand through her ponytail, "But since Ladybug and Rena Rouge are with us, I can destroy the sentimonster versions of themselves and Ladybug and Rena Rouge can pretend to be the sentimonsters."
"But what if Lila notices?" Alya folded her arms across her chest, "She's not as dumb as others think."
"She won't," Celeste grinned, "Only I have a connection with my sentimonsters and I created more sentimonsters than she did akumas. So if all else fails I can use my creations against hers."
"It sounds like a solid plan," Marinette smiled, "But there's one problem."
"What?" The teen asked. She'd thought that she had accounted for everything that could possibly happen, apparently she hadn't though.
"What if your akuma side comes out?" The bluenette asked, "That would flip the whole situation."
"Oh..." The teen breathed, "Well, there's not really a solution to that..."
The four adults looked at the teen with bemused expressions.
"You see, the akuma always tries to take control and escape," Celeste explains, "I haven't really figured out a way to get rid of it, only keep it at bay."
"Where is it located?" Adrien asked, "Maybe we can destroy it."
"If you do that, I'll die," Celeste sighed as the adults' eyes widened.
"What do you mean die?" Marinette spoke.
"The akuma's in my heart," The teen replied casually, "The only person who can destroy it is me."
Silence filled the room as the heroes looked at one another.
"Adrien? Nino?" Alix called as she wandered around the house.
She'd arrived from her burrow to find the place empty, when she was pretty sure both men were there when she left. The pinkette got out her phone and tried to call both men, they both went to voicemail.
"Where are you guys?" She breathed as she turned on the television.
There wasn't any recent akuma attacks and if the two just gone out for a while Alix knew they would've been back by now. Sighing the pinkette dialed Chloe's number.
"Hey Alix," The blonde greeted, "What's up?"
"Have you seen Adrien and Nino today?" Alix asked the stress visible in her voice.
"Yeah, I think Rose told me they spoke to her earlier today," Chloe yawned, "I bumped into her at lunch. But they went to the cafe near the Dupain's."
"Thanks," Alix sighed, "I'll check by there."
"What happened?" Chloe was suddenly a lot more alert, "Are they ok?"
"I don't know where they are," Alix answered, "But I'll find them."
"I'll head out then," The blonde insisted, "I'll call Luka and Kagami too."
"Thanks, Chlo," The pinkette replied.
"No problem," The call ended and soon Alix had grabbed her car keys and was on her way to the cafe Chloe mentioned.
If those two were playing some sort of prank she definitely wasn't going to find it funny...
"Adrien and Nino are nowhere to be found?" Kagami asked as she listened to Chloe, "That's odd. Usually you know where those two are."
"I know," The blonde agreed, "I just need you and Luka to search for them. They were last seen at the cafe by the Dupain's bakery."
"You mean the cafe that makes my favorite cinnamon rolls?" Kagami raised a brow.
"Exactly," Chloe answered, "Just search around there for now and ask if anyone's seen them. Alix is already on her way."
"Ok, we'll be there in a ten," The bluenette shrugged on her coat and tossed Luka his keys.
"Thanks Kagami," The blonde replied before the call ended.
"Adrien and Nino?" Luka raised a brow.
"Adrien and Nino," Kagami nodded, "And I'm pretty sure I know where they went.
The four adults were stood outside of the cafe all with their own hunches on where the two men may have disappeared to. They all stood there in the freezing winter air, bundled in thick jackets and warm winter gear.
"I feel like they're playing a trick on us," Alix shivered as she wrapped her blue scarf around her neck.
"I don't think Adrien and Nino would do something like that at a time like this," Luka chuckled, "Maybe they just went out somewhere?"
"They would've at least called us or told us something if they did," Chloe answered, "Trust me. Those two are usually easy to locate."
"Then maybe they went to the Dupain's bakery?" Kagami suggested, "If they went there then they wouldn't have thought to call anyone."
"They didn't go there," Alix sighed, "I already tried Marinette's parents. It's like they've just disappeared."
"Well, maybe we'll get answers from here," Luka gestured towards the cafe, "Plus it's freezing. We should go inside."
The three women nodded and followed Luka inside.
The group entered the warm interior of the cafe and Kagami immediately approached the barrister while the others went to a cafe worker. The barrister stood behind the counter, cleaning the surface as he checked everything was in order.
"How can I help you tonight?" He asked.
"Um, I was wondering if you saw these two men earlier today?" Kagami showed him a picture of Adrien and Nino from her phone.
"I have," The barrister spoke, "They came in and spoke with a local customer, Celeste. Then they left together."
"Do you happen to know where they went after that?" Kagami inquired.
The barrister shook his head, "Your guess is as good as mine." He sighed, "But she often goes stargazing before heading home. Usually at the green by the Eiffel Tower."
"Thank you," Kagami smiled before joining the others who had bought some treats, "Why did you buy all those?"
"So that Emma can have a birthday treat," Chloe shrugged.
"Plus it was the only way to get them to talk," Alix growled gesturing towards the worker.
"Any luck with the barrister?" Luka asked trying to change the subject.
"I got two locations," Kagami smiled, "The green in front of the Eiffel Tower and Lila's house. Problem is we don't know where Lila lives..."
"I do," Alix smiled, "Perks of being Celeste's PE teacher."
"Let's go there then," Chloe grabbed the pinkette.
"Wait," Luka spoke, "We don't know what to expect when we get there. Lila could be waiting for us."
"Luka's right," Kagami agreed, "If we want to make sure we have a chance, we have to find the others. Or recruit more users. Alix, do you know where the miracle box is?"
"Yep," The pinkette grinned, "I'll get the ones needed."
With that their plan was born and the four heroes sprung into action.
Luna Moth stood in her butterfly room, tears streaking her cheeks. This would be her final attempt to make everything the way she wanted it to be, the way where no-one tells her what she's afraid to hear.
She'd make the ultimate wish with the miraculous: for there to be no miraculous.
That way nothing would play out the way it has, the world would start again. There'd be no Ladybug, no Chat Noir. No-one in her way, no-one telling her what she wanted or didn't want. Everything would be normal and there'd be no bond connecting Marinette with Adrien.
Inside, Lila knew that she was losing. Everything was crumbling around her, yet she continued to carry on. To carry on the pointless battle between herself and the heroes of Paris. And for what?
She just didn't know anymore. Everything in the woman's life made no sense anymore. Her mother didn't talk to her anymore, all her friends left her and her own daughter wanted nothing to do with her. Maybe she did deserve what she was getting now. All of the karma that had built up through the years was finally crashing down with the woman's sanity and self-respect.
She didn't know who to trust anymore. She was by herself.
Half a butterfly landed on her cane and the female stopped crying. Lila's eyes widened as she had no control over the thing that had now possessed her mind. Usually she would be able to eject the akuma, but now it was slowly but surely absorbing into her.
With a slight wince, Lila let out a whimper before being encased by a familiar purple substance.
Celeste was awake. She sat up in the pillows and blankets she'd used to make a bed and stared out at the starry night sky. The teen just couldn't sleep, she had a bad feeling brewing in her stomach and she didn't like how it felt.
"Duusu," The teen gently nudged the sleeping kwami, "Something's wrong. I can feel a change in emotion."
The kwami stirred before fluttering her eyelids, "Five more minutes."
"Duusu," Celeste looked at the kwami, "It may be serious."
"What do you mean?" Duusu yawned as she opened her eyes, before blinking, "Oh...I see what you mean. It seems negative. You don't think-"
Celeste's phone beeped to show a new news alert answering the two's question. Gingerly, Celeste picked up her phone and pressed the play button.
"Don't be bemused it's just the news," Nadja Chamack greeted, "There's an akuma attack in central Paris and the victim seems to be Lila Rossi. The police are already at the scene getting civilians to safety but where are Ladybug, Chat Noir and the other heroes?"
"Mom?" Celeste breathed, "Duusu we've got to wake the others. We have no time to waste!"
The kwami nodded as she began to zip about waking the other kwamis, while Celeste headed to wake up the adults. If Luna Moth had been akumatised, then that meant everything could go wrong.