Mayura
The End of All Sorrow
"They're all together now," Mayura declared as she watched her enemies through the eyes of her final Avatar. "…The world would be a better place without Miraculous. No more fallen angels pretending to be heroes…" As the pale-blue woman coldly stared on, Duusu appeared and took up rest upon her shoulder. "With your help, I'll be the last of their kind. Then, you'll be free."
"…I wouldn't mind staying in the Miraculous…as long as I could be with you, Nathalie," the long-suffering Kwami warmly declared.
"Don't get too close to me, Duusu," Mayura declared with pain in her voice. "I'll be gone soon. But Emilie will never leave you again." Duusu's feathers wilted as her eyes darkened with sadness. Taking pity on her beloved friend, the dark Miraculous placed her icy hand upon the Kwami's back and lightly petted her feathers until she settled down and returned to her pin.
With one final crackle of thunder, the storm dissolved into the darkness of the night, rendering all of Paris silent. Her heart freezing over once more, Mayura smiled and stepped forth. The rain had washed away the remnants of violence, the weight of sin, and the fear of what was to come. Each drop purified the world, and all who remained true and upright. The just had been separated from the unjust, and the wicked would burn in the light of day. Turning to her right, Mayura saw Gabriel standing beside her, finally wearing the beautiful, radiant smile the world had taken from him so long ago. Smiling back, the dark Miraculous turned to her left, where Emilie held little Adrien in her healthy, loving arms. Both were beaming with joy, all thanks to Mayura.
"…Take care of him for me, Emilie," Mayura happily choked out, wanting nothing more than to hold that sweet little boy's hand one more time. Emilie nodded her head and smiled. "And Gabriel, too. He needs others more than he knows."
Facing forward, the pale-blue woman froze as the dull, gray image of her lost mother appeared as a revenant. Her face was as stern, cold, and angry as Nathalie remembered, and the audacity of her presence burned more than ever. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded with hatred lacing her words like the venom of a snake.
After a moment of doubt and silence, Mayura smiled as a dark comfort freed her mind. "What you never could," she answered without remorse or hesitation. "Goodbye, Mother." At that, the dark Miraculous cast her left hand outward through the image of a loveless and forgotten, causing it to dissipate until the very thought of it vanished. With all distractions gone, Mayura breathed a sigh of relief before opening her eyes through the Veil of Feathers, illuminating her mark upon the final Avatar's face. This would be the final battle, from which peace and freedom would be born. Then, once the wish had been granted, the final Miraculous would fade into nothingness.
Her eyes opening through her ashen, black-scuffed domino mask, a young woman so pale her veins were clearly visible, focused her red-and-black irises as her mistress guided her to her target. Stepping forward, the last Avatar walked under the dim glow of a streetlight, revealing her to be a nearly emaciated, ashen-cloaked shadow of Ladybug. Though her movements were slow and calculated, the woman held only one goal in mind as she slung a red and black-spotted, twin-bladed greatsword over her bony shoulder. "No more lies…" she croaked in a weak, weary shadow of Ladybug's voice. "No more suffering… No more broken promises… No more fighting… No more Miraculous." Seeing through her creation's eyes, Mayura continuously shed tears of blood, though it no longer concerned her.
As expected, Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Volpina emerged from the shadows, spotted their final opponent, spoke amongst themselves without stopping or taking their eyes off their target, and began a charge. Unimpressed, the final Avatar swung out her blade, piercing the cement of the sidewalk and leaving a large slit as she continued on her way. Within seconds, her slow gait turned into a violent march.
"My god," Chat had exclaimed upon seeing the ashen figure. "It's you, Ladybug."
"I know it's a fake, but seeing you like that kills me," Volpina declared with pain and sympathy in her voice.
"I know," Ladybug replied with understanding. "But we can't hold back. Those creatures suffer every second they're forced to exist. We have to end this here and now."
"You're all here now," the final Avatar declared in her hoarse voice. "I'll give the Cat and Fox a chance to surrender…but, Ladybug, I must kill."
"How dare you use her voice!" Chat screamed as he extended his claws. For years, Ladybug's voice had served as council, comfort, and a source of hope for the young man, and to witness such a repulsive mockery of his hero speaking in her voice was blasphemy. Unable to contain his anger and disgust, the feline Miraculous sprinted forward.
In that same instant, Volpina and Ladybug ran forward, each driven by a sudden surge of anger. From atop the darkened Eiffel Tower, Mayura's face ignited with a smile so devilish she no longer resembled anything human. Chat Noir swung his claw at the Avatar's throat, only for her to jump back. Volpina drew her flute, dropped into a sliding kick, and smashed it into the leg of the imitation of her friend, bringing the pale imposter to her knees. Ladybug then threw her yo-yo outward, wrapping its wire around the Avatar's arm. Given their opening, the three Miraculous closed in on their opponent.
"The three of you…" the beast continued, still using a weak mimicry of Ladybug's voice. "Have crushed the hopes and dreams of the innocent for far too long. The mayor, the police, the public: They have all given you their trust, their faith, and their permission, yet you've only ever fought for yourselves."
Chat drew his staff and carefully swung it at his opponent's sword as Volpina twirled her flute while Ladybug found herself winding up her device and preparing for a killing strike. Their minds were in a blazing, red fog that numbed their pain, forced their pain and anger to the surface, and led them to a single destination: They needed revenge, which would come in the form of a swift and painful demise.
"The world has judged each of you…" the horrible voice continued. "And it will not forgive what you have done."
Suddenly, Volpina turned to her side in the hot, humid jungle beneath a sky as red as blood, and spotted her opponent. The pale, ashen-clad mockery of her beloved friend stood in the brush, staring at something in the distance, leading the fox Miraculous to tighten her eyes before delivering a violent right hook to her enemy's cheek.
"But the world has taken so much from each of you! Who are they to cast their fears, hopes, and dreams upon your weary shoulders?"
Reeling from a blow she failed to prepare for, Ladybug opened her eyes in the hazy orange desert she had found herself in, clenched her fist, and drove it into the Avatar's maw. Because of her, and the powers that created her, people suffered. For that, there would be no mercy.
"Don't you want revenge? Don't you feel the hatred, the pain, the loss of freedom, and the sting of a world that takes so much and gives nothing in return?"
Falling onto his back, Chat Noir searched for his target, only to find himself alone in a wooded area flowing with blue and white flames. The fraud wearing his beloved friend's face passed by a nearby tree, driving his anger to force his claws forward and slash at the Avatar's heart.
Mayura began to chuckle to herself as her icy heart grew light. Soon, a wild cackle erupted from her throat while the Miraculous battled and strove to kill one another. Ladybug tightly clenched her chest with her crossed arms, but the dark Miraculous knew her foe would endure. Surely, Ladybug would be the one to triumph over her allies, and once her lust for vengeance faded, Mayura would deliver the final blow. The ladybug Miraculous would finally die in guilt and shame, knowing she had been completely dishonored. Then, the world would see her for what she truly was, though she spent years hiding behind a veil of sanctimony.
Volpina collapsed against a nearby wall, her body aching and her resolve fading. No matter how many times she struck her opponent, she accomplished nothing. "Ladybug, Chat," she gasped in desperate attempts to catch her breath. "Where are you?" Clenching her throbbing shoulders, the young woman tightly closed her eyes and fought back the tears welling up inside of them. "I can't do this anymore…I can't do this anymore. Not alone. I can't…" A gust of wind washed over the area, cooling and drying the sweat on the fox Miraculous' brow, only to slow and linger. Though she was tempted to open her eyes, Volpina forced herself to remain still and take in her environment.
Turning her head toward the wayward hero, the final Avatar tightened her grip around the hilt of her sword and began walking to her. However, the beast's movements were slow, lingering on a single step until it appeared to be standing still. Volpina slowly calmed herself, all the while feeling Trixx's gentle, comforting embrace, and found herself standing in a bank of fog she never knew existed. "This…" the young hero declared, creating a vast echo. "…This is wrong. Everything…it's all a lie." With her ears, Volpina heard the footsteps of three individuals. With her nose, she smelled Adrien's cologne mingled with sweat, as well as Marinette's perfume. Finally, with her heart, she felt the presence of her beloved friends, knowing they were in pain. Within the flash of an instant, the fox Miraculous touched her flute to her lips, played her long-remembered music, and cleared away the fog of anger and vengeance that was consuming her and her loved ones.
Ladybug and Chat Noir soon found they were grappling with one another, as their false environments faded to nothingness. The two gazed at one another, each bearing wounds and looks of great remorse, before turning to Volpina and the Avatar. As the beast prepared to slash its foe, it suddenly felt something grab the blade and halt its movement. Volpina snickered before opening her eyes. "Nice try, Wannabe," she happily declared.
"Perfect Cataclysm!" Chat's voice cried out.
"…No," the final Avatar gasped in sorrowful defeat as its eyes began to shine with white light. Looking up to the sky, Ladybug's shadow opened her mouth to release a stream of white light, which soon began to radiate from her entire form as it began to crack.
Ladybug and Volpina stared at the pitiful sight with no feeling of victory or glory. Chat closed his eyes and lowered his head as the great wind flowed through his long, flowing blond hair and danced across his pure, white mask. After seconds that passed by like an eternity, the last of the Avatars reached out her hand toward its mistress, only to shatter in an erupting swell of white light and energy that left nothing behind.
Once the light faded, and all grew silent, Volpina and Ladybug approached their friend as he remained crouched down on bended knee, his arm still outstretched and his eyes still tightly closed. Her movements gentle, Ladybug took her dear friend's hand in her own, allowing him to open his tear-reflective eyes. Once the young man knew his horrible duty was fulfilled, Volpina placed a kind hand upon his shoulder as the ladybug Miraculous helped raise him to his feet.
"Good job, Chat," Ladybug quietly declared as her white-clad ally stepped closer for her to envelop him in her loving arms. "You too, Volpina."
"Thank you," Volpina spoke just above a silent mouthing.
"Chat, it's okay," the raven-haired young woman assured her partner. "It wasn't real: The Peacock Miraculous made a puppet and used it to attack us. You saved us, Chat…You didn't do anything wrong. Just look at your costume…As white as an Angel."
"…Thank God for you, Ladybug," the feline Miraculous choked out as he finally relaxed his hand.
Falling forward onto her knees with such force it cracked the ground beneath, Mayura coughed up a stream of blood into the air as her hopes shattered. The horror was unprecedented, as was the outrage. Truly, the Miraculous would stop at nothing to crush those around them. If given their way, Gabriel's world would be destroyed. Despite the pain wracking her body and mind, despite the blood she cried and choked on, and despite her fear and growing sense of despair, Mayura made her decision.
"Nathalie," the purple-haired little girl spoke up one last time. "What's gonna happen to you?"
"It doesn't matter," the dark Miraculous answered without hesitation, though sorrow laced her voice. With that, she jumped from atop the tower, spread her dark wings, and flew down to the earth. This has to end now, she declared.
Images of the loving father, taken too soon from this world began to flash through Mayura's spiraling mind: All the times he held her hand, calmed her after a nightmare, helped her through the times she wanted to give up and give in, and taught her to stand on her own, each so precious but so distant, began to resound in her heart yet again. Emilie appeared as well: Her long, golden blond hair blew in the strong wind as the bright and vibrant sun shined down on her glistening alabaster skin and infinitely warm and loving emerald eyes while her pure-white dress flowed like waves on the ocean. Her gentle embrace warmed Mayura's chilled flesh as her kind smile eased her heart. What would the two think if they could see their beloved friend or daughter now?
Opening her eyes, Nathalie found herself alone in the cold and darkness of her empty bedroom, her knees bent on the floor while she lay her weary head atop the center of her bed. Gabriel wasn't there to comfort her while she cried, just like her mother…
Finding herself standing in the icy room she once called home, Mayura looked around to see several spaces illuminated by Duusu's aqua-blue light. Photographs of the family she used to have, the dreams they used to share, and the peace they all enjoyed no longer brought her comfort. The only solace came from knowing her family could have it all back after she was gone. Adrien would never know of the horrors she and Gabriel suffered and enacted, just as it should be.
Nathalie sat upon a firm rocking chair in the dim light of the nursery one cold, windy night. Her tired eyes glanced down at the pure, beautiful baby boy resting in the cradle of her arms and suckling her breast. The purple-haired woman smiled as she stroked the child's soft blond hair. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Adrien," she whispered over the howl of the wind. "All the monsters are gone now…Mommy will never leave you again." The baby cooed as its little body settled into a peaceful position. "My sweet, beautiful little boy…I love you."
Before hitting the ground, Mayura spread a flurry of black and blue feathers to the wind, surrounding her and the other Miraculous in a barrier of darkness that choked out every star in the sky. The ominous figure levitating above them, Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Volpina gazed up at her dark and terrible beauty.
"Then you're the one," Ladybug called out as her hair blew in the icy winds.
"I am Mayura," the dark Miraculous declared as her eyes, now laced with crimson, locked onto the enemy of all she loved. "And with your demise, I will be the end of all sorrow."