Foxhunt

Chapter Four: The Hunter

The light of the moon glistening on their backs, two angelic figures, one dressed in red and black, and the other with golden hair, dressed entirely in black, reached through the blowing snow and darkness to reach their beloved friend. Her eyes tired, moist, and terribly chilled, Alya stared up at the sky was Ladybug lifted and cradled her like an infant in her arms. Then, for an instant, everything faded into darkness. Opening her weak, tired eyes once more, Alya saw Chat Noir calling for Trixx, who had never left her side. Suddenly, a flash of red light illuminated the night, and the redheaded young woman felt the throbbing pain in her leg disappear.

"We'll take you to the master," Ladybug's voice, though muffled, declared with inspiring strength and compassion.

"Everything's gonna be okay," Chat Noir's strong, boyish voice added before being overshadowed by the great winds.

Dim lights provided just enough visibility for The Hunter to gather his surroundings within the warehouse. As with every hunt, he returned to whichever dwelling he currently called home to take stock of all that had happened. His hands trembling, the black-clad man picked up his weapon to once more feel a connection to it.

"You have failed me," Hawk Moth's demonic voice declared through an earpiece. "You were to bring me the Fox Miraculous, no matter the price."

"And I will," The Hunter sorrowfully answered, staring at an image of his target through his helmet's single eye. "I will…" Once more, sorrow entered his voice. "…I just need more time."

"Do not fail me again," the dark Miraculous exclaimed just above a whisper before all communication vanished. "Volpina must be my prisoner."

Looking down at his hand, at his gun, the hunter found himself alone and lost in thought, still at the mercy of his past and the pull of the future. "…Only to bring order," he declared to himself. "Only for things to be as they were meant to be." Standing staunch with his gun in-hand, The Hunter remained still, even as the lights in the warehouse failed, shrouding everything in the darkness of the merciless night.

"But Dad…" a blond-haired little boy had tried to protest, all those years ago.

"Son, it's injured," a figure cloaked in shadow had replied in a stern, unfeeling voice. "Put it…out of its misery."

Gazing down at the white snow colored red with blood, the child crouched down on his knees before a once proud and majestic fox, now broken and taking in sparse, shallow breaths. In that moment, their eyes met, and the child saw the truth.

So many years passed by, all of them spent alone. The hunts were countless, the rewards few, and the cost was always terrible. All the same, the boy continued to hunt and kill day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after bloody year. His childhood having ended at his first kill, merciful though it may have been, the boy no longer slept, nor did he dream. All that mattered was catching his prey and fulfilling the obligation of his truth.

Gazing down at the rooftop now stained with blood, The Hunter had crouched down on his knees before a once proud and majestic heroine, now wounded and helpless. The truth was no longer hidden or forgotten. Hands like bones nearly clenched their long-sought reward, only to be left empty and cold.

For so long, The Hunter had been alone and left with nothing. So many times, he dreamed of an end to his terrible journey, but it never came. Then, he appeared: Hawk Moth, whom the world feared, called out, saying that the broken, damaged hunter was the answer to his prayers. Though the Akuma were unable to merge with him, the black-clad man forged a deal with the dark Miraculous in exchange for the end of his frightful hunt.

"Volpina," The Hunter whispered as he placed his body upon a small cot in the corner of his vacant dwellings. His body needed rest, though his mind would remain aware and vigilant. "Soon, all will be as it was meant to be. Neither of us can deny it, nor can we ever run from it." Closing his eyes as they flowed with tears, The Hunter took in a deep breath before releasing a heavy, sorrowful sigh.

The Hunted

"We weren't followed," Chat Noir declared as he and Ladybug supported Alya after they entered Master Fu's apartment through the window.

"She's been shot," Ladybug exclaimed as she laid her friend on the couch. "She says it wounded her while she was in her Miraculous form."

Startled, Master Fu came to the young woman's side as she struggled to keep her eyes open. "And it was not an Akuma?" he nearly gasped. Ladybug shook her head as the elderly man carefully rolled up Alya's pant leg to inspect the wound. "Surely dis was deh work of Hawk Moth, even so."

Her eyes clenching, Alya tilted her head as she awoke from a fever dream. "Are the girls okay?" she coughed out without opening her eyes. Ladybug and Chat Noir quickly turned and faced their friend. Letting out a heavy sigh, the redheaded young woman slowly began to rise into a seated position. "I…need to make sure my sisters are safe…"

"Alya, don't get up," Ladybug gently spoke up as she placed her hand over her friend's chest. "Your sisters are fine. I'm sure they're still asleep at home. We'll go check on them in a little bit, but you need to take care of yourself right now."

"I'm fine," Alya tried to argue, even as her head spun. "I…what happened to me?"

"You were attacked by one of Hawk Moth's minions," Master Fu explained. "He struck you with a poisoned bolt, dhough it wasn't enough to seriously harm you."

"Was this what you were having those nightmares about?" Chat Noir asked as he and Ladybug returned to their natural forms.

"And why were you out on patrol so late at night after getting an omen like that?" Marinette added, unable to stop herself from growing upset.

Alya turned her head away from her friends, but Trixx would not be silent. "Tell them, Alya," she demanded. "No more secrets."

"…Fine," the African-American young woman gave in. "I had another nightmare, and I knew something was coming…I just wanted to keep my mom and sisters safe."

"That was brave of you," Marinette warmly replied, forcing herself into a calmer state. "…But why didn't you call us?"

Silence fell over the room as all eyes focused on Alya. Though she refused to look at her friends, the young woman clenched her shoulders and made her confession: "I didn't call you," she slowly choked out. "…Because I'm tired of being rescued. I'm not some helpless kid you two need to save every time there's trouble." Marinette felt her heart begin to sink, rendering her incapable of speaking. "…I thought that would be the one good thing about becoming a Miraculous…That I could finally be a hero. And I was for a while…But then it all came back…"

"What did?" Adrien asked as he slowly took a seat on the coffee table.

Blinking heavily in an attempt to quell the tears, only for them to flow from her eyes, Alya roughly cleared her throat. "…That I'm me," she barely croaked breath. "…That…I'm the girl who got Akumatized, always followed Ladybug around and got in her way…and, even after becoming a Miraculous, still stuffs herself with food she doesn't even want, and cries alone while people are in danger…You know, I…I thought that, once I became Volpina, I'd turn into a better, stronger person… But I'm still me!"

As Alya began to cough, gasp, and wail, Adrien no longer knew what to do, but Marinette stepped forward without fear. "…Then give it to me," the raven-haired young woman instructed her friend while reaching out her hand. Alya sniffled back before turning her bloodshot, tear-soaked eyes toward her friend. "…You know I never wanted you to become a Miraculous…Now, I know I was right." Marinette's voice grew harsh as she demanded her oldest and best friend's jewel. "This is your only chance to let it all go, Alya…Give me the fox Miraculous, forget all about Ladybug, Chat Noir, Hawk Moth, and all of this."

Silence once again fell over the room, and all was still. Master Fu closed his eyes and turned away from his pupils, awaiting the decision to be made. Adrien, however, found himself unable to look away. Alya's face tightened into a look of shock and disbelief, still mingled with her sorrow.

"This is your chance to let it all go, Alya," Marinette persisted, her face growing as red as blood. "Don't follow me, don't ask us questions, and don't run the Lady-Blog anymore…You can be your own person, but not as a Miraculous. So, give back the armband, let go of Trixx, and just go home."

Tikki, Plagg, and Trixx hovered back, having never known Marinette to act so fiercely toward her friends. At the same time, Adrien felt his heart pound and his stomach tighten.

"…This is supposed to be the part where you apologize," Alya sniffled with anger growing in her voice.

"No, Alya," Marinette gravely answered. "I'm Ladybug, and there's no room on my team for someone as weak, sad, and helpless as you. You were right about what you said: Chat and I shouldn't have to babysit you. So, why hold onto a Miraculous you don't even deserve?"

Despite her pain and tears, Alya threw herself forward, grabbed onto Marinette's shoulders, and knocked her to the ground. The two grappled and struggled, each refusing to yield or give in to what had been said. Every attempt Adrien made to end the fight was restrained by Master Fu, who seemed neither shocked nor surprised.

Throwing herself against the woman she called her friend, Marinette watched as Alya tried to fight back, only to wind up pinned down at the wrists under the raven-haired girl's clenched hands. At that moment, the two glared into each other's eyes. Their sweat dripping onto the floor, the two panted heavily within their perfect impasse. "Let him win," Marinette ordered. "Prove I was right…Give Volpina to someone else, and don't even try to get back up."

Clenching her teeth, Alya forced herself upward and threw her friend back. "Screw you!" she screamed as she watched Marinette trip over the coffee table and fall onto her back. "You don't know what it's like doing what I do with everything I have to live with!"

"…But you still keep fighting, don't you?" the holder of the ladybug Miraculous answered. "That's what made Adrien and I Miraculous all those years ago."

At that, Alya froze, and everything was over. Adrien turned to his master, who smiled only for a split second before journeying into his kitchen. After what felt like an eternity, Alya held out her hand for Marinette to take. "…I hate you for doing that to me," the redheaded young woman declared as Marinette took her hand. Once the two were standing face-to-face yet again, Alya tightly embraced her oldest and dearest friend. "Thank you, Marinette," she sighed through closed eyes.

"I love you, Alya," Marinette warmly declared as she and her precious friend began to sob.

"Love you too, girl," the redheaded young woman happily replied as she held Marinette a little tighter.

Smiling to himself, Adrien gently placed his hand on Master Fu's shoulder as the Kwami embraced one another. After time had passed, the Miraculous Ones made their way downstairs, into the parking garage, and into Master Fu's car. Being in a confined and secure space gave Alya a sense of security, especially with Marinette sitting beside her as the heater kept the interior warm and calm, like bundling under covers in a warm bed. Even with The Hunter searching for her, the young woman felt peaceful and safe with the family she had helped build for herself. Everything would be alright, she knew.