This story turned out to be 104 pages long so it now holds the record for the longest completed story I have written. Also this chapter is 11,708 words... longest chapter ever filled with action packed surprises! But it is the LAST CHAPTER! whew I am pooped. Giving a heads up... I will be taking a break from writing for a bit while I rebuild my buffer and find more inspiration. I will be updating Detecting Ladybugs as scheduled though due to the fact that I still have a healthy buffer for that story. Also I am going to be combining chapters of The Skeletons Dance in the next few days so you guys might get notices saying I've added a new chapter. They won't be new, its just me fumbling my way through the controls... Sorry in advance. Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! I had an awesome day and got to play tag in some epic banyan trees with some of my cousins. It was fun and even though I am twice their size and age I still managed to rule the game!

Angel T-chan Nekoi... I try not to write too much horror although this story has toed the line in my brain several times. My friend tells me I am a little too good at writing scary stories and tragedy. I like to stick to suspense to make people jump. As for the Morte question... there is a reason I put a bullet in him from the get go. :) Not a clue on the fox thing although I favor Vixen as a name.

(Sequel to Meaning of Marigolds!)When skeletons begin to rise up from the shadows it's up to Ladybug and Chat Noir to put a stop to it. Will they be able to end this new threat or be buried six feet under?

The Skeletons Dance (Part 6)

They had slept nearly thirteen hours when they were awoken by Alya who had a worried look on her face.

"Whats wrong?" Marinette mumbled as the kwami flew to their chosen's full of nervous energy.

"Um its not dark out yet but the akuma has uh… called you guys out I guess?" Alya said "He kinda took over the news station for a bit and sent a broadcast out."

Marinette and Adrien were instantly awake.

"Did he hurt anyone?" Adrien demanded as they began climbing out of the bed.

Alya shook her head "No but he took everyone. The mayor has put a mandatory curfew in place once the sun goes down and everyone is scared."

"I'll bet they are. This is the longest we've had to deal with an akuma and he is just getting stronger the longer this goes on. Where is our little showdown going to take place?" Marinette asked

Alya grimaced. "Champ de Mars. About fifteen minutes after the broadcast went out a hole opened in the street just before the Eiffel Tower. You can see the skeletons at the mouth of the tunnel but its not dark enough for them to emerge just yet. Everyone has vacated that area and of course he wants you guys to show at 9pm or earlier but you guys should probably go before the sun is down."

"Of course he gave us a choice to come earlier, how kind of him." Marinette muttered "We need to see what this hole looks like and then we can plan the best way to attack."

"I say we get into position behind him now and when he comes out we attack." Adrien hissed

"You cant!" Tiki squeaked making Adrien and Marinette turn towards her.

Alya explained. "He wants you both in Champ de Mars at the latest at 9 pm. Or Ladycats an option I suppose but he seemed insistent on you both being there. If you don't show or if only one of you shows he is going to start killing people. One every three minutes until both of you do."

Marinette and Adrien paled. "Oh no, and he is serious too." Marinette whispered making Alya nod.

"Yeah but everyone could see the damage you did to him the last time you fought. Those are some nasty scratches on his face girl!"

"His arm doesn't seem fully healed either." Plagg purred clearly enjoying the thought of Morte being in pain. "I think you did more damage to his item than we initially thought. One good slash should do the trick to taking him out the rest of the way."

"Yeah but to do so we are going to have to fight our way through all his minions and this time I'm pretty sure he is pulling out all the stops." Adrien snapped not liking the way the odds were stacked against them.

Everyone went silent thinking until Alya spoke up. "I could dress as Chat and walk out with Ladybug. Then Adrien could sneak…"

"NO!" Marinette and Adrien yelled at the exact same time the look of horror on their faces being enough to make Alya cringe.

"Actually that's not a bad idea sneaky little pup." Plagg mused flopping down onto Aylas head, patting her curls in appreciation "It will give you two an ace since he won't be expecting an attack from behind."

"Not just no, but hell no Plagg." Marinette growled "I am not dressing her up as a decoy and taking her out to face an akuma that is literally after our deaths. Morte isn't playing around, he stabbed Adrien simply because he was a hostage that I wanted to save. If we bring Alya out there and something goes wrong he will probably kill her. That is if he doesn't try to right off the bat. I have a feeling he isn't going to like cats very much after our last bout."

Plagg bared his teeth. "Bad luck to him then. Do you have a better plan? Morte isn't going to let either of you walk away tonight and this little battle has gone on long enough."

Marinette gripped her hair the frustration rolling off her in waves. "No. I don't. But I cant put Alya in that kind of danger." She moaned

Adrien patted her back soothingly. "We can challenge him. Show up as its getting dark, challenge him and rush him together."

"What about the minions?" Tiki asked

Adrien shrugged "We will have to figure that out later. I am with Marinette 100 percent on not letting Alya near this guy though. When I was down in the tunnels I figured out who he is. He is that killer that busted out. Aeron Sterben."

Adrien declaration was met with silence as Aylas eyes bugged out. "The akuma is a Jailbird?!" she shrieked making Marinette and Adrien wince

"Uh yeah, and he really doesn't like being called that. Matter of fact that's probably why he stabbed me. That and I smashed his nose in for him."

The kwami were silent an odd look passing between them while Alya yanked out her phone clearly ready to do a post to her blog about this newest scoop.

"It doesn't matter why he doesn't like you Adrien. Do the rest of you see why we cant use Alya as bait out there though?" Marinette asked and the kwami nodded.

"Um guys?" Alya broke in and three heads turned to look at her. "The mayor has just declared Martial Law. The police are setting up a barrier all around Champ de Mars."

"Looks like you two are getting help no matter what you want." Plagg said making Marinette and Adrien sigh

"Back to the plan, should we go as it starts to get dark or wait till the last moment?" Adrien asked looking to Marinette

Marinette bit her lip. "We should go scout it out. Morte isn't going to step out of his little hole until he is ready to and who knows how many skeletons he will throw at us before then. If we scout it out now, maybe ask the police to help, we can use there riot shields to drive a wedge into the skeletons once they come out on the green. If we can do that and get to Morte we have a chance at taking him down. We also need to tell everyone the skeletons weakness, get it on the air in case Morte sends other skeletons into the streets."

Adrien nodded stretching his arms above his head. "It's a plan then."

"It's the best I have." Marinette said a weak smile flickering on her lips.

Alya frowned at them both. "So you guys just want me to sit here and do nothing?!"

Marinette flinched at the aggravation she could hear in Aylas tone. "Please?"

Alya spun around fast making Plagg grip her hair to stay on her head. Her back was to them as she moved to the ladder, the tone of her voice clearly expressing her annoyed state "I… I don't care what you guys say. If anything happens to you, if this battle starts to go downhill I am coming to help and there will be nothing you can do to stop me."

"We could tie you up." Adrien answered wryly

Marinette smacked him and Alyas head snapped towards him as she let out a sound that was fairly close to a snarl. "You can try." Alya hissed dangerously then dropped to Marinettes floor stalking off to where the spare bedroom was.

Marinette sighed moving to get off the bed herself but Tiki flew down to stop her. "We will talk to her Marinette. You two eat something. After all you will need all the strength you can muster later."

Marinette nodded slowly and Tiki flew off. Beside her Adrien huffed "I was only kidding. She knows that right?"

Marinette patted his shoulder. "You might be kidding but with the way Alya is I think it might be a good idea. We both know she is going to try and help."

Adrien shrugged "Nothing we can really do to stop her Princess. Other than tying her up or maybe telling her parents."

Slowly Marinette crawled to the edge of the bed shaking her head at both suggestions. "Come on kitty, lets get something to eat. We can worry about Alya later so let's start getting prepared for tonight."

In the end they didn't tie Alya up or send her home to her parents even though they were freaking out. Aylas phone had rang several times and so had Marinettes. Apparently Marinettes parents had tried to come home early only to find out about the akuma. They couldn't get into the city due to the Martial Law and they had been frantic trying to get a hold of her. It had taken some doing but Marinette had calmed her parents down, assuring that she was safe and with friends. Adrien hadn't bothered trying to contact his father or Natalie since he knew if he did they would swoop down and confine him to his room. Adrien simply left his phone off so he would have to think about it. Finally the sun began to set making Marinette and Adrien nervously glance at Alya. They had all been rather shifty the past hour or so after Alya had emerged with the kwami from the spare room. Now they stood across from each other in the living room where they had been snacking on random things and chatting about nothing in general.

"We will be back Alya." Marinette said finally breaking the strained silence as she hugged her friend.

Adrien hugged her next and as he pulled back Alya nodded a stony look on her face. She was upset, not at them really but at the fact that she couldn't walk out the door with them to help.

"Stay safe. Keep each other alive. I don't want to have to blow your secret identities to Nino by telling him one or both of you died." Alya growled her hand clenching around a heavy flashlight she had found in the spare room. The thing was a weapon in its own right and she felt better with it in her hands.

"We will so don't brain us when we come crawling back in through the window. We will probably be worn out when we do." Adrien answered for the both of them.

Alyas lips twitched and as a group they made their way back into Marinettes room. As soon as they entered Tiki and Plagg fluttered down gazing at their chosen.

"Ready?" They asked making Adrien and Marinette nod.

"Tiki Spots On!" Marinette called with Adrien a second behind her saying "Plagg Claws Out!"

Dual flashes of light flared and Alya let out a small squeal. "That is still so freaken awesome, I'm never going to get used to it." Chat and Ladybug smiled at her then Alya stepped forward pulling them both into a final hug. "Go on and kick this dudes butt. I expect a full and detailed interview with both of you when this is done."

"Awe Alya cant Ladybug just do it?" Chat whined even though his grin never dimmed.

"Nope you are both required." Alya answered smartly waving her phone at him. "Now scat both of you. I am going to take a nap."

Ladybug and Chat chuckled at her tone slipping out onto Marinettes balcony. The window sealed softly behind them leaving Alya alone in the room. She waited a half a minute to make sure they weren't going to suddenly come back in before retreating to the guest bedroom. In truth she felt odd going in the room at all. Whenever she stayed at Marinettes she always slept in the bed with her or on the lounger when Marinettes clinginess in sleep became too much. Any extra clothes she left were stored in a spare drawer in Marinettes room so it was very rare for her to come in the spare room. The only reason she did so now was because she hoped it would be less distracting. She moved to the small window and opened it a crack, letting in the rapidly hushing city noises before climbing on the bed making herself as comfortable as possible. What she was about to try was quite possibly the stupidest thing she had ever done before. A million things could go wrong but if Alya managed to do what she hoped, she would give her friends a better chance at surviving that night.

Alya was going to try to contact Hawkmoth or at least lure a butterfly to her.

Plagg had been the one to tell her since she had multiple questions about the butterflies and how one could capture it. It happened rarely when the miraculous was being used for good and most of the time by accidents that usually involved children. It happened more when the butterfly miraculous was being used for dark intentions. Unfortunately darkness tends to attract darkness more readily and therefore led to stronger akuma rising. To capture a butterfly one either had to know what they were looking for or they had to draw one to them. For most people what Alya was attempting to do would be impossible. However, Alya like most of her classmates and several other Parisians, were uniquely suited for drawing a butterfly to themselves. Alya had been possessed before, which meant that somewhere in Hawkmoths horde a butterfly was already attuned to her. If she could figure out how to call out to it the chances of it responding was very high. The question was whether or not she could manage to call out to it.

When she had asked for details or a hint Tiki had been the one to say "Try and remember the feeling you had when the butterfly first landed on you before you became Lady Wifi. Your emotions were what drew it to you the first time even though it was guided by Hawkmoth. However, now that connection is made you should be able to call it to you again."

Plagg had continued the idea "Get somewhere quiet and reach out with your senses and mind. Sniff out the sensation and you should be half way there. The only problem is you won't know it's working until the butterfly arrives."

His words were a little disheartening and a touch confusing but Alya was determined to try. Her heroes, her friends were in dire straits, even if they had bravely walked out the window without a hint of fear. The one thing that held her heart in an icy pick of fear was what both kwami had told and warned her about if she did try this last ditch plan. The butterfly would need something from her in order for her to use its power. Whether it was an object, or something less tangible didn't matter. What did matter was that it was something of hers and that it was something precious. Alya had already decided on what she was going to give up and she had run it past the kwamis in case it wouldn't actually work. They had been surprised but Tiki had almost reluctantly informed her idea would in fact work and work well. Now she just had to concentrate. Unfortunately it was easier said than done and after several minutes bled past she could feel her frustrations mounting. Shifting on the bed Alya gave a half hearted growl under her breath flopping onto her side and jamming her eyes shut. It wasn't a comfortable position and after several more failed positions she found one that was comfortable enough to relax in but not comfortable enough to sleep in. She was sitting with her back to the headboard her legs curled over the top of a pillow with her hands resting in her lap across the heavy flashlight. Closing her eyes Alya allowed her mind to drift back to the moment when she had first become an akuma. This moment was just before her memory went on a complete fritz for the rest of the day and it was quite difficult to hold on to. The memory kept slipping away leaving her more and more frustrated. It wasn't right for her friends to be out fighting for their lives when all this was Hawkmoths fault and the worst part was she couldn't do anything about it. Finally with a snarl Alya jolted upright ready to throw the flashlight in her hand, when the oddest sensation went through her. The sensation felt like the moment just before you slipped, that odd tingling sensation you got through your whole body. Everything seemed to freeze for the briefest of seconds and Alya glanced about herself a touch worried. The sensation was gone as swiftly as it came and with a start Alya realized what she had missed. It was her anger at the unfairness of Chloes treatment of her that had caused her possession in the first place and as such it was probably that same thing that would draw the butterfly now. Thankfully that feeling of unfairness was easy to access.

Alya settled back against the pillows letting her frustration bubble to the forefront of her mind all the while calling out wordlessly. It took a minute but soon the odd slipping sensation was back, a tingling that started in her hands and slid its way up to her shoulders before cascading down to her toes. The sensation made her feel almost dizzy but in a good way so when a voice demanded "How are you doing that?!" She shot upright with a scream.

A white butterfly darted off the flashlight in her hands fluttering about and Alya gasped realizing she had done it! Then the white butterfly started fluttering towards the window and Alya darted to the cracked window slamming it closed before it could escape. The butterfly peeled away clearly in distress fluttering up to one of the corners of the room.

"No! Hey butterfly its ok! Come back I'm not going to hurt you!" Alya cried waving her hands at the creature.

It either didn't understand or it didn't care because after fluttering uselessly at the corner for a second it settled on the wall its white wings trembling. Alya bit her lip wondering if she should climb up after it then cast that idea away. It could fly and had plenty of experience at dodging hands or predators. She wasn't going to catch it by force. Instead she settled back on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes once more. The sensation came even faster to her this time and it only took a few minutes for the voice to come back.

"What exactly do you think you are doing?" Hawkmoth roared and from within her fuzzy, not quite remembered moments of being Lady Wifi she recognized his voice.

"You know you yell an awful lot Hawkmoth. What's the matter everything not going your way?" Alya snarked remembering her time as Lady Wifi more clearly. It would seem that the longer she remained in contact with the butterfly the more she could remember.

"Petulant teenager, I will ask you one last time. What do you think you are doing?" Hawkmoths voice was still loud but his words this time were positively icy.

"I am trying to save my city from a psycho jailbird akuma that you released!" Alya snapped

There was silence and Alyas eyes popped open wondering for a moment if Hawkmoth had broken the connection, but the butterfly was sitting on her wrist its wings trembling slightly.

"Wow you guys are pretty." She murmured and the butterfly flicked its wings spreading them in such a way that made Alya think it was preening.

"Don't encourage them, they are already vain creatures." Hawkmoth said making Alya jump once more.

"And that's creepy." Alya said and she heard Hawkmoth sigh.

Before he could try and speak since he probably wouldn't have anything nice to say, Alya beat him to the punch. "Hawkmoth, you are supposed to be a hero. I've talked to Ladybug and her um, kwami and that's how I knew that I could do this. This akuma you have created is going to destroy Paris and you know as well as I that if he takes down Ladybug and Chat Noir he isn't going to stop. He will come after you next and nothing will be able to stop him."

"Not true." Hawkmoth answered. "He is bound to my power and therefore he cannot use the other miraculous. The moment he tries and discards my power his life is forfeit."

Alya was silent for a moment then anger burned through her, so pure and furious that the butterfly on her hand blazed with light. "Is that your plan? How dare you. Your miraculous is supposed to inspire not destroy!"

Hawkmoth sighed again and Alya could practically envision him pinching his nose in exasperation "No you silly child that was not my plan although it would be a means to several ends. My plan has always been to collect the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous. I do not wish to see the children holding them killed. My power however is limited and I cannot control an akuma that has been captured. I tried when it became obvious that Morte was intent on killing that one boy. Thankfully Ladycat was able to intervene. Is that child alright?"

The concern in Hawkmoths voice made Alya hesitate, because she could tell he was genuinely concerned. It was odd however that he would ask about a citizen if he were just a villain. "He… He's a classmate of mine. He is safe although Ladybug and Chat Noir decided to hide him since Morte seems to hold a grudge."

"I see." Hawkmoth murmured seeming to come to a decision. "Very well then, Lady Wifi you have captured a butterfly. What is it you desire?"

Alya flinched at the complete 180 of his attitude and tone, it almost made her feel as if a bucket of water had been thrown in her face. "Um… My name is Alya not Lady Wifi, and I want… no I need to help Chat Noir and Ladybug."

Hawkmoth snorted "I do not think Lady Wifis powers will do much to help."

Alya frowned as the butterfly began crawling up her arm. "Yeah I know that's why I have this." She reached out grabbing the flashlight that she had set aside. "The skeletons can't stand light and this thing is heavy enough to be used as a weapon anyways."

There was only silence from Hawkmoth as the butterfly bounced into the air to settle down onto the flashlight. The butterfly was still glowing slightly from her earlier outburst and it turned towards her seemingly waiting for something.

"My kwami has explained to me why Morte is not bound to my power but I do not see any problems arising from you doing this foolish errand. You will not be able to use any power you gain from this against me and the moment you have finished the task you set out to do the butterfly will be freed from your brief control. I can assure you that you will not be able to do this again. So for your first and only time of being a Champion I ask, what will you give to secure this power?" Hawkmoth queried

The butterfly took on an almost pearlescent glow and for a brief second Alya wanted to back down. Then her determination and courage reasserted itself even if the fear she felt still ate at her. "Memories." Alya managed her mouth dry. "Um, more specifically my memories from the past week and today."

Silence trailed along the bond then Hawkmoth echoed "Memories? I am…" He broke off suddenly as if someone had interrupted him. "I… see… and I won't be able to see them…"

Alya felt his attention turn back to her as the butterfly began to glow steadily brighter. With her watching the butterfly burst into motes of light that bound themselves to the flashlight in her hand. White pooled up the metallic surface eating it away until it met her hand then that odd tingling sensation hit her once more as the white continued up her skin. She closed her eyes as the transformation slid up her flesh and she jumped when Hawkmoth said "Your memories are surprisingly powerful Lumara. Do what it is you need to do. You can shed your own light as bright and powerful as the sun from your hands. The staff at your hip will allow you to get from place to place quickly but be warned if something breaks the centerpiece on your chest the butterfly will be set free and you will lose all power. Once your task is finished break the centerpiece and the butterfly will depart on its own with your memories. When you see the cat and bug tell them they will never receive aid from me again no matter the akuma or danger to life. I will make certain that no butterfly can ever be called upon as well."

The connection cut off suddenly and Lumara gasped opening her eyes to darkness. She blinked several times and suddenly a dim light began to shine from her chest. The source was a fist sized circle at the top of her sternum.

"I…I did it… I DID IT!" Lumara shrieked fleeing the room.

Heart pounding in excitement she practically raced up the stairs, pausing for a brief second at Marinettes oversized mirror she used when designing. As Lumara she looked stunning. A grey and cream suit covered her from her neck to her toes the color darkening to a charcoal color at her wrists and ankles. The boots and gloves she wore continued with the dark color scheme although silver disks with clear looking centers were set in her palms. Pale yellow and orange lines flared from the charcoal shades following her muscles and giving color to an otherwise bland look. Her hair was streaked with silver and yellow lines, blending with the orange red tones of her natural color surprisingly well. A cream mask with darkened edges hid her eyes and the domed centerpiece on her chest that was her weak point glowed with her obvious pleasure. In all honesty it looked like something Marinette would design and knowing she wouldn't get a chance to later she snapped a picture of herself.

"Really? You are taking pictures of yourself?" Hawkmoth demanded his voice devoid of any kind of emotion.

Lumara yelped not having expected to hear his voice again then seeing the butterfly mask across her features snapped "Hell yeah I'm taking a picture! I won't remember this and someone has to document the fact that you are helping this time around!"

"Not willingly." Hawkmoth answered his tone holding an icy touch.

"You're still helping." Lumara answered sweetly "Will I hear your voice the entire time I'm transformed?"

"If I wish you to, and I will also be able to see and hear what you do if I wish." Hawkmoth growled clearly displeased at this idea.

"Wonderful…" Lumara muttered her tone echoing his displeasure.

"You might want to hurry. I believe your… heroes are in a bit of trouble." Hawkmoth said as a loud boom seemed to echo his statement.

Lumara nodded to herself, fear for her friends flickering through her mind but she squashed it refusing to think negatively. Leaving her phone on the desk she scrambled through the window saying "Hang on guys I'm coming."

Ladybug and Chat Noir were in fact not doing very well in the battle against Morte. They had run straight to Champ de Mars meeting up with the police force who were camping outside the metal barricade. The police had been relieved to see them but it didn't last long since they didn't have an instant solution to the akuma problem. One especially rude police officer had tried to blame Ladybug. Saying she was being an incompetent hero and not fixing things when she had the chance. Chat had snarled at the man making him go pale and flinch behind some of the other men standing nearby. None of the police force had forgotten how Chat had single handedly taken out most of their numbers when the Roger-cop akuma had been around and they were distinctly wary of his strength. Ladybug then dropped a bombshell on the poor men when she told them that it was the prisons fault for allowing the prisoner Aeron Sterben to break free. They hadn't been expecting that and Ladybug was able to take control of the situation, telling them about the basic plan she had come up with. It wasn't a solid idea by any means but the police still agreed to help as best they could.

As the shadows grew longer the Police slipped into the park moving between the trees and getting into what they hoped would be a good position. Once the sun set however the Police were forced to draw back as skeletons began to slink out of the hole in the ground. They stuck to the shadows looking frail and the ones that wandered too close to the barricades were quickly dispatched. Ladybug and Chat Noirs time to reveal themselves rapidly grew closer and the two of them decided to go in a bit early so Morte wouldn't have any excuse to harm a civilian.

It was full dark as they walked up the center of Champ de Mars weapons held loosely in their fingertips as they moved. Some of the police force had wanted to accompany them but they had refused an escort, knowing Morte would probably attack straight out if they did. Lights lit up the Eiffel Tower and the whole parkway so it was easy to see the skeletons as they creeped around their numbers growing as they slunk from the trees to surround them. Their escape was pretty well erased overland but as they drew nearer to the Eiffel Tower they both knew they could get away using Pairs most well known landmark.

"You know I think we still have a pillow and blanket stored up there My Lady." Chat murmured as they continued their trek towards the yawning darkness of Mortes tunnel.

"I think you are right kitty. We will have to get them down once we are done with this Bonehead. I can't even imagine what the maintenance workers would think if they found them." Ladybug answered causing Chat to chuckle at the thought.

"That is close enough." Morte called his voice reverberating across the green through all the skeletons at hand.

"And that right there is very creepy." Chat growled and Ladybug agreed.

"Come out Morte. It's time for this battle to be finished." Ladybug yelled her voice sounding far braver than she felt surrounded on all sides by the enemy. Chopper blades hounded the air near them and Ladybug could have cursed their stupidity as it came closer for a better view.

"Should I chase them off?" Chat asked fingering the staff in his hand.

"No they could be useful if we need to make a quick break away. After all skeletons can't fly and we don't want to tip what little hand we have." Ladybug answered then turned their attention to the tunnel before them.

A sound echoed across the green, a hissing sound that seemed to echo from the jaws of every skeleton around them. The darkness in the trees seemed to become more intense as still more skeletons emerged from the ground. The sound of bones scraping dirt sounded from the tunnel itself and after a moment Morte emerged. Chat could see the scratches left on his skin from Ladycats claws and he was proud to see that Mortes nose was no longer straight either. His costume was still very much the same with one major difference, his chest was no longer covered by thin rib like projections. Instead the whole thing was a solid chest piece that gave no hint to where the akumafied object was.

"Oh that's just fantastic." Ladybug growled "Chat you mind Cataclysming his chest? I think that will be the fastest way to his item."

Chat grinned savagely as he dropped into a slight crouch putting himself a little before Ladybug. "It would be my upmost pleasure to do so My Lady." He purred

Morte wasn't close enough to hear their words and he stopped at the mouth of the tunnel raising a hand into the air. A bone blade formed there growing over the top of his hand. He swung it down his red eyes gleaming in silent fury and all the skeletons roared charging in at once. The heroes could only watch in shock for a long moment as the skeletons closed in rapidly. In truth they hadn't really been expecting a direct furious attack right off the bat. Ladybug and Chat had been expecting some banter maybe a little tussle as Morte sent a few skeletons at a time for them to destroy. That was the usual akuma behavior and it was only in hind sight that they realized their error.

"Back to back!" Ladybug cried pivoting as Chat did.

Their backs met in a brief touch before they launched out slashing and smashing through skeletons that were pulling away from the main incoming force. Ladybug took farther out targets while Chat took ones that were closer in. All the while they maintained an invisible circle around themselves returning to their back to back position periodically as they fought. As the skeletons came at them more readily Chat yelled "Wreaking ball!" and Ladybug twisted around throwing her yoyo so it went about his one ankle.

In the next instant he jumped as Ladybug twirled sweeping him in a large arc that rapidly cleared the immediate ground surrounding them of skeletons. As she slowed Chat gripped the line twisting around so he landed on his feet once more. The yoyo snapped back to her hand and Chat leaped back to her side as the skeletons came to a sudden halt some of them frozen in odd positions. Ladybug and Chat remained back to back as they eyed the circle ready for the next wave when it came. The skeletons remained motionless many of them frozen midstride. They both jumped a little however when a clapping sound echoed around them. It sounded hollow especially with the chopper blades drumming its own tattoo above them. It was a news chopper and it was quite obviously filming which was probably why Morte had called for the sudden halt. Morte wanted to make the biggest spectacle he could and wiping out Paris favorite heroes too fast was not the way to go.

"Alyas going to be so pissed at us." Chat muttered watching the sea of bones as they shifted trying to pinpoint Mortes form.

"Let's hope she really is taking a nap then." Ladybug answered their shoulders rubbing briefly as they turned together all the while watching for new movement along the skeletons line.

"You know she isn't. I'm half expecting to hear her crashing through the wall of skeletons, the police at her back." Chat chuckled

"Yeah… At least she is safe though." Ladybug replied. "Hopefully."

Finally the clapping sound died off and from the mouths of a dozen skeletons ranging all along the circle Mortes voice emerged. "For teenagers you two fight surprisingly well. My patience however is at an end"

The circle of bones shifted and new skeletons emerged. These were thicker than the main force and more ominously they held weapons in their bony hands. Ladybug felt Chat shift at her back and she had a feeling that these new skeletons had emerged from behind as well. Far across the field she could hear the sounds of smashing as well as voices yelling and she hoped that the police weren't in too much trouble. They needed an edge and Ladybug knew just where to find one. Taking a half step forward Ladybug threw her yoyo into the air. "Lucky…"

"Down!" Chat yelped slamming her to the earth as something sliced out of the darkness and caught him across his shoulder. Chat yelped as it carved a gash in his flesh and Ladybug twisted out from beneath him spinning her yoyo to catch the other two projectiles that flew from the same direction. Mortes red eyes leered from the darkness and Chat rolled off her with a snarl leaping after him. True to form Morte laughed and the skeletons charged once more. Chat met them eagerly breaking his baton into two pieces as he went to work. Ladybugs yoyo flashed past him inches away smashing the skeletons he couldn't take out left and right.

"Chat fall back!" Ladybug cried knowing they wouldn't be able to maintain the distance they had for long. Soon skeletons would get between them and cut them off from the other. If that happened the fight would be over and Chat bounced back on his heels avoiding a club that swung just centimeters past his nose.

Unbalanced from the swing the skeleton stumbled its head tilting forward to provide an excellent target. Chats batons cracked across the skull twice before it turned to dust and in the next second Ladybugs yoyo hooked him about the waist hauling him back as a bone sword swung down into the spot where he had been standing. Hearing a yelp from behind him Chat spun in time to catch Ladybug as she was knocked back.

"Ow." Ladybug growled breathlessly as she tried and failed to shift back to her feet. Chat didn't see any nasty gashes on her person but he knew from experience that blunt force injuries didn't show on the suits.

"Where are you hit?" Chat demanded lowering her to the ground as Mortes laughter echoed around them.

"Ribs, give me a sec." She managed with a wince trying to catch her breath and failing miserably.

The skeletons closed in and Chat pulled Ladybugs yoyo from her hand spinning it in a rapid circle before launching it at the skeletons in a wide arc. "Not sure we have many of those My Lady."

He was unfortunately right as the skeletons closed in on them their open mouths hissing as they shambled forwards. Ladybug regained her feet and yoyo then together they charged at the skeleton wall. They had both spotted Morte slinking through the skeletons on this side and they both hoped that he was still close. Ladybug used her spinning yoyo as a shield while in her other hand she held a bone club she had picked up. Chat was using his baton in its dual weapon state smashing anything that was in reach. They fought well covering each other as they kept the swarm of skeletons off of themselves even if just barely. Fighting as the unbreakable team they were, Ladybug and Chat Noir could have made it out of the sea of skeleton even though they were tiring fast. Morte however wasn't a man who played by the rules or fought battles in any kind of fair way.

"Marinette! Left!" Tiki shrieked and Ladybug turned seeing the odd square in one skeletons chest.

A light blinked ominously from within and it only took a half a second for her to react. Her yoyo lashed out catching the skeleton as it shoved against its brethren to get closer to them. In the next moment she flung it into the air but not quite quick enough. A loud boom deafened and blinded her tossing her back into Chat who shrieked in pain. They both hit the ground the bomb having detonated at enough of a distance that it didn't burn them. Bone shards flung from the blast had cut them though and as Ladybug opened her eyes she could see one sticking out of the side of her arm. With a grunt she almost couldn't hear she yanked it out the world spinning unpleasantly as she did.

"I'm here Marinette. No internal injuries although you might be slightly concussed. Chat is to your right." Tiki said her voice being the only clear thing she could truly hear.

"Ow. Ow, ow, ow." Ladybug said in reply although to her ears it was muffled grunt. Chat was curled on his side near her, his eyes slitted in pain hands over his ears. It was obvious the explosion had hurt his ears far more than it had hurt hers and she noticed several bone shards that stuck from his suit. Gritting her teeth Ladybug managed to get to her knees when a foot smashed into her already injured side tossing her into Chat. Chats arms wrapped around her as he caught her and he curled protectively around her hissing as Morte stood before them.

Morte was smiling grimly his red eyes bright with amusement and bloodlust. "I believe I owed her that. Although I feel I owe both of you a whole lot more." His words were muffled but Chat could read lips so he understood just fine.

"Come a little closer then. I will be happy to slash that arrogant smirk off your face." Chat snarled then winced as Ladybug pulled a shard of bone from his back.

Morte waved a hand at them. "I believe I shall, once you are sufficiently pinned down that is."

Chat sensed the movement coming at them from behind and he surged to his feet his fist slamming into a skull. The sudden change in stance sent his balance reeling however, and he almost toppled back to the ground. Ladybug managed to catch him and they sagged against each other weary and dizzy in their own right. Even still as the skeletons closed in they tried to fight, but between the fatigue already eating at them and the explosion that had sent them reeling they couldn't keep it up for very long. Within moments bony hands held them trapping their arms behind them as the skeletons ribs pinned them in place. Oddly enough the ribs didn't make either of them feels sleepy and Ladybug could only reason that it was simply because Morte wanted them awake. He prowled before them a wicked grin stretching his face as a bone blade formed in his hand.

"I believe I shall start with the cat." Morte hissed stepping towards Chat

Ladybug twisted in her bonds the bony projections digging into her painfully even through the suit. "Don't you dare touch him!" She yelled jerking hard enough that the skeleton was pulled to the side.

Morte cast a bored eye in her direction then froze as a white figure was launched into the sky behind them. He cocked his head curiously just as Ladybug yelped "Chat eyes shut!"

Light blazed around them and they both heard Morte scream as the skeletons holding them turned to dust. Both heroes fell to their hands and knees as Morte stumbled back towards his skeletal hoard.

"Guys! Are you ok?! I came as fast as I could!" Lumara cried dropping to her knees beside Ladybug as she vaporized several skeletons that looked to be getting too close.

Ladybug blinked at her "Alya?!"

"Lumara like this girl! I kinda captured a butterfly, got in contact with Hawkmoth and came to the rescue! Sorry it took so long." Lumara answered

Ladybug gaped at her clearly shocked and Chat asked "Hawkmoth is helping us?"

The purple mask flickering to life around Lumaras face sent both heroes reeling back but she just waved a hand looking annoyed. "Oh shut up you annoying butterfly brain." The mask blazed brighter and she sighed. "He wants me to assure you that this will never happen again, he is helping against his will, and no one will ever again be able to contact a butterfly the way I did either. There I told them so will you please shut up?!"

To emphasize her point she blasted several skeletons that were coming far too close. Morte was nowhere to be seen, while both Ladybug and Chat were gazing at her looking stupefied.

"Guys? Akuma?" Lumara said getting to her feet.

Chat was on his feet first stumbling a little as he made it upright. Ladybug was on her feet next.

"We will be talking about this when you go back to being Alya." Ladybug growled her hearing finally returning to normal.

"Sure but I won't remember it so you should probably yell at me now." Lumara answered

Ladybug looked confused but Lumara was sure Tiki would explain in due time. Chat bent over scooping their weapons up off the ground. He tossed Ladybugs yoyo to her and she caught it easily spinning it around her hand.

"Thank you for saving our tails Lumara, it is such a purrrleasure to have you on our side." Chat said with a grin and Lumara raised an eyebrow.

"Yes he is always like this." Ladybug said answering the question before she could ask. "Chat, lets finish this. Lumara can you keep the skeletons off us as we go after Morte?"

Blasting several skeletons that were running at them Lumara nodded. "We might want to hurry though, I think Morte is probably heading back to his tunnels."

"Lets do this then. Lucky Charm!" Ladybug yelled tossing her yoyo into the air. Light coalesced and a shape wrapped in polka dotted paper dropped into her hands. Stripping the paper off Ladybug gaped at the almost basketball sized shell in her hands.

"Is that?" Chat asked then ducked a bony club. His baton smashed through the skeletons head as light flashed past Ladybug destroying a skeleton that was coming up from behind.

"That's gonna make one hell of a boom!" Lumara cried looking all too eager.

The chopper circled overhead the fools far too close. Ladybug grinned suddenly holding the fuse out. "Light it up Lumara."

Lumaras eyes went as wide as her grin and she pointed her hand at the fuse a beam of light briefly shooting out. The fuse hissed sputtering to life and Ladybug spun the yoyo in her hand grimacing at the pain in her side.

"Make sure you catch me Chat!" Ladybug called and launched the yoyo upward where it caught on the helicopters strut. She went airborne a second later twisting her body so she could land inside the choppers open door. The poor camera man saw her coming and just barely jerked out of the way in time. Ladybug landed hard falling back against the other door of the chopper which was thankfully closed.

"OWWW…" She groaned hissing at the pain her body was currently in then managed to jerk herself to her feet. "You all need to get out of here now because I'm about to blast the sky wide open. Tilt the copter a little sideways as I exit then fly as fast as you can away." The two men gaped at her clearly not understanding. "Move it or lose it this thing is lit!" Ladybug snarled galvanizing the men into action. She tossed her yoyo out making a slingshot like shape before putting herself in the cradle.

The camera man was still in shock as he scrambled further back but thankfully the man flying the copter pulled up on his stick sending them upwards. Then all at once he called "Ready!" and the copter tilted at an angle that made her heart lurch. Sky opened up before her and Ladybug didn't even think about the stupidity of her next actions. She just kicked up her feet and launched herself out. She came out at an angle and she threw the shell straight up into the star lit sky using her yoyo to send it a bit higher. The wick was almost gone and Ladybug let herself plummet towards the ground as she watched the copter speed away. The ground was liberally covered with skeletons and she could see a dark figure heading towards the hole that was just beneath the Eiffel Tower. Chat saw her falling and he sent himself soaring up to catch her using his baton as Lumara remained below casting out arcs of light to drive the skeletons back. Chats arm wrapped around her as light bloomed above them. Ladybug slapped her hands down over his ears as the firework roared to life above them and they began their decent down Chats baton. The single shot blasted apart in a pink and green shower that blossomed across the sky in a massive jubilee of light. There feet hit the ground and all at once fire rained down from the firework ridden sky turning skeletons to ash the moment they were touched.

"Holy hell Ladybug. Think you put enough power into that shot?!" Lumara demanded

"No Morte is escaping and he is almost to his little tunnel to the underground. We need to stop him but Chat nor I can get there fast enough. Lumara you can blind him and stop him in his tracks… I need to throw you…" Ladybug answered

Lumaras face went slack then she squealed "Man I wish I hadn't left my phone behind! Ok do it! What do I do?"

Chat had caught on as Ladybug whipped her yoyo out to wrap around Lumaras waist.

"Fill his hole with light and don't let up. Use your staff to slow your decent or it's gonna hurt when you hit the ground." Chat answered letting Ladybug prepare herself to throw her best friend right into the path of a psycho akuma.

Lumara nodded eagerly curling her hands into fists. Light flitered through her closed hands and Chat gripped her round the waist. "You might feel a touch dizzy." Chat warned then he tossed her into the air with such ease that Lumara let out a squeal of surprise. Ladybugs string caught her instantly spinning her in a swift circle before flinging her forward like a rock from a sling.

"This is AWESOME!" Lumara shrieked letting the light raze the ground below her as she flew hoping that it would help clear the remaining skeletons that the Lucky Charm hadn't. A figure raced before her towards a hole that she was heading right for. Flying like she was Lumara out paced him easy and she shot her staff out slowing her decent enough that when she hit it only jarred her a little. Rolling to a swift stop she leaped to her feet letting light blast into the hole before her cutting down several skeletons that appeared to be the back up crew. Sounds of running feet slapped the cobbles behind her and spinning around she blasted all the light she could muster right at the akuma known as Morte.

Morte shrieked pulling back as he covered his eyes then threw something at her. Pain erupted at her thigh and Lumara stumbled back with a gasp landing on her butt the light in her hands extinguished. A piece of bone was embedded in her thigh and she gaped at the sight in horror.

"You idiot girl! Move before he kills you!" Hawkmoth roared and Lumaras head jerked up to see Morte coming for her a bone blade in his hand.

"Hawkmoth. I wonder if you will feel her death?" Morte sneered picking up his pace towards her able to see the purple mask that covered her face as Hawkmoth tried to force her to move.

"Stay back!" Lumara screamed fear filling her and sending a pulse of blood red light from her hands. It struck Morte in a direct hit and any exposed bit of skin he had was almost instantly blistered by the lights touch. Morte roared again flinging something new at her but this time Lumara managed to roll to the side avoiding the bony spear that would have transfixed her otherwise.

"CATACLYSM!" Chat bellowed from nearby and as Morte turned another weapon forming in his grip Chat plowed into him. His hand struck the bony plate on his chest as his weight knocked Morte off his feet. The weapon in Mortes hand slashed down as Chat leaped away scoring a shallow line down his side. Cataclysm ate away the bony cover as Morte scrabbled to his feet cursing the heroes as he did so. Ladybugs yoyo smashed into him next nearly knocking him off his unstable feet again. The blow wasn't a solid one though since it had actually almost missed. A bony projection shot off his body in the direction of the yoyo like some evil blow dart gun but it was obvious he missed as Chat darted away once more. It didn't even dawn on Morte that they had switched weapons until Ladybug came swinging down from above her feet smashing into Mortes back and driving him into the ground. She bounced off him sliding to a stop as Chat bounded over to her side. Silently they switched their weapons back as Morte remained inert.

"D…did you get him?" Lumara asked shakily trying to ignore the bone shard still in her leg. It burned like fire bad enough that it was making her nauseous. It was also bleeding slowly transforming her crème color suit red.

Ladybug nor Chat answered as they creeped closer to Morte ready for him to attack at any moment. They came from opposite sides stopping a foot away from Mortes prone form, their tired muscles tensed and ready for anything. Silently Ladybug nodded and Chat reached out with his baton moving to flip Morte over. It was the moment Morte had been waiting for and he launched himself from the ground a purple blade in his grasp as he slashed at Chat. Chat fell back instantly, avoiding a fatal blow while Ladybugs yoyo flashed out wrapping around Mortes ankle. She swung him around smashing him into the ground once. When he made a move to get up she torqued her body so he was flung into the air only to smash back into the cobbled ground again. She repeated the action several more times as Lumara managed to drag herself over it to their side.

"Good job Lumara." Chat murmured then darted forwards as a purple object fell from Mortes currently flying form. Ladybug slammed Morte into the ground harshly recalling her yoyo when it seemed like he wasn't going to try to get up this time around.

"My Lady." Chat murmured slipping up beside her and holding out a purple bladed knife. It was stained with what looked like dried blood and Ladybug recognized it for what it was.

"Is that?" Lumara asked remaining in a sitting position. Her leg was killing her and she was losing blood but she knew that Ladybug and Chat were moving as fast as they were able. She had been injured in the last seconds of battle. They had been injured far before and were still on their feet fighting. It made a surge of pride spread through her, happy she had been able to help even if she wouldn't remember it later.

"Yeah it is." Ladybug answered and not wanting to touch the blade itself, she gripped the handle as Morte let out a shriek. Both heroes looked up as Lumara pointed her hands at where Morte was struggling to turn over. He managed it and his hands scrabbled at the loose cobbles as he tried to pull himself from the miniature crater he lay in.

"Don't!" Morte cried harshly. His mask had cracked upon his final impact causing dark lines to run though the whole thing giving it the appearance of a cracked skull. The effect was made even creepier as Mortes eyes blazed with red light causing the closest cracks to take on a reddish hue.

Ladybug paused eyeing the akuma then the item in her hand as her miraculous beeped. "It's my job. You shouldn't have stolen this power and you should have never attacked the innocents of Paris simply because it amused you."

Mortes lips curled into a sneer but as she raised her hand to smash the item his face fell into a mask of fear. "Please! I'll die!"

Ladybug froze once more her eyes meeting Mortes. His eyes held fear but they also held a twisted cruelty and Ladybug knew her decision had already been made. "I'm sorry." Ladybug answered and slammed the blade down into the cobbles. The knife shattered upon impact as Morte howled and Ladybug took a step back waiting for the butterfly to fly out. Skeletons all around them instantly turned to dust and after a long moment the butterfly wiggled out of the blade. The blade itself returned to an odd pasty color but to Ladybugs surprise the purple butterfly didn't try to fly away. Instead it simply lay there on the ground totally limp.

Purple flashed in Ladybugs peripheral vision as Police began to swarm over to their position and Lumara gasped. "He stabbed it! The butterfly is hurt!"

Chat bent down lifting Lumara up into his arms and she stared at him a touch confused. Chat simply shook his head and Lumara remained silent waiting to see what was to happen.

Casting the handle of the odd knife away Ladybug crouched once more lifting the limp creature into her hands. Flipping the yoyo open she asked "Will cleansing the butterfly heal it too?"

"It should although it won't heal Morte." Tiki answered ominously.

Ladybug placed the butterfly into her yoyo snapping it closed and waited as the compact flashed briefly, then grew warm. While she was waiting Ladybug tossed the paper she pulled off the firework shell into the air calling "Miraculous Cleanse!" The effect was immediate the swarms of ladybug lights darting through the air fixing damage and filling Champ de Mars with all the stolen people.

"Well that will give the police something to do." Chat mumbled making Ladybug and Lumara chuckle. Ladybug did notice however that while the light healed them and Lumara not a single flicker went near Morte.

"Put your hands on your head!" A police man shouted as Morte suddenly reverted back to Aeron Sterben.

He didn't comply, didn't even twitch as Ladybug moved towards him. In fact he shrank back a little allowing Ladybug to see the massive bloodstain that covered his side.

"Well that explains why he smelled of blood." She muttered and Chat rumbled in agreement at her side.

"You have killed me." Aeron snarled weakly his life blood draining from him once more now that his transformation had come undone.

"No. The man who shot you killed you, the actions you took after that moment killed you, and your deal for power with Hawkmoth has killed you." Ladybug answered seeing the bewildered looks the police had. Gently she pressed the compacts lid and it opened releasing the pure white now fully healed butterfly.

It moved surprisingly fast compared to its normal slow moving brethren, alighting on Mortes forehead. Morte flinched back as a purple mask blazed into life across his face and a strangled cry slipped past numb lips. His arm rose as if to swat the butterfly away then it fell. Slowly his jaw went slack and his eyes closed the butterfly becoming progressively brighter as the on-watching police took a step back. Swiftly Aerons body turned gray and lifeless his skin taking on a texture that looked closer to a stones. The butterfly took to the air and as Aeron Sterbens body collapsed to the ground it turned to dust leaving empty bloodstained clothes in its wake.

"Bye, bye little butterfly." Ladybug murmured making all eyes look to her in shock. Seeing their faces Ladybug sighed "There was nothing I could do. Either we kept a crazy jailbird death akuma or he gave up what he promised Hawkmoth to gain his power in the first place."

Their miraculous beeped again and seeing no questions were likely to be fired their way Ladybug nudged Chat. Together with Chat still carrying a now protesting Lumara they turned their back on the horrifying sight. They didn't go far since they didn't have much time left in their transformations and they stopped on a nondescript rooftop near Marinettes house. Chat moved to make sure a fire escape would allow easy access to the ground as Ladybug dropped to her butt next to Lumara.

"Your turn." Ladybug murmured and Lumara reached up to the orb on her chest covering it with a gentle hand. Pulling it off her costume she went to crush it only to pause as Ladybug covered her hand. "Hawkmoth, I know you know who Lumara really is and I swear if you send an akuma after her for helping us or try to use her as a hostage, I will do something awful to you when I find you."

A purple mask flashed across Lumaras face and Ladybug flinched as Hawkmoths voice sneered through her mind. "Empty promises since they will never find me. Tell that snippy little bug I promise nothing. You will run into any danger that springs forth and since you won't remember any of this you will no longer possess the common sense to stay out of the way!" The mask grew brighter as Lumara began to snigger and after a brief moment of silence Hawkmoth continued almost sulkily "I won't specifically target you unless it's the akuma itself you have pissed off. I can't believe I am having this conversation with a teenager."

Lumara started to laugh outright. "He…he's right…" Lumara chortled as she explained not realizing that Ladybug had heard "You can't hold that against him because I'll run into danger to film and get my scoops. It's not like he can call off attacks for a simple citizen. Even one as well liked as me. He did say he won't target me specifically though. I think our butterfly man secretly likes me."

"I… heard… but I don't think he likes you as much as you think Lumara." Ladybug replied a wry grin making itself known.

The purple mask blazed brighter than ever and Hawkmoths voice demanded "Break the pendant already then Ladybug I tire of this connection!"

Both girls laughed at this and Chat moved over to them clearly wanting in on the joke. If they hadn't been pressed for time Ladybug would have invited Chat in on teasing Hawkmoth but knowing that they only had a minute or so left she lifted the object into her hand and crushed it in her grip. Instantly Lumara reverted back to Alya as a white butterfly wiggled out of a now full sized flashlight that Ladybug dropped in surprise. The butterfly darted into the air before it got crushed and did a short spiral before landing on Alyas outstretched finger.

"Will this hurt?" She asked and a purple mask flashed weakly across her face. Alya smiled "I still think these little guys are really pretty."

The butterfly's wings trembled then it leaped into the air before settling on Alyas nose. The air went still for several seconds and Ladybug just barely caught Alya whispering "Bye, bye my pretty white butterfly."

The butterfly took on a pearlescent glow and as Alya slumped into Ladybugs arms it took to the air flying up into the dark sky. A moment later dual flashes of light revealed Marinette and Adrien as their transformations finally wore off.

"Awe the butterfly really liked her." Tiki murmured fluttering down to press her paws to Alya's cheek.

"She did well. I'm surprised she actually pulled this off. I'll bet that was a nasty shock for Hawkmoth." Plagg huffed settling into Alyas hair.

Adrien and Marinette glanced at each other then looked down at their kwamis. "Are you going to explain?" They asked together

"Nope!" Plagg cheerfully answered

"It wont happen again so there is no reason to. However we should probably head home since we are all exhausted." Tiki sighed

Neither Marinette nor Adrien appreciated that answer but the two of them had long ago realized that if the kwamis didn't want to talk there really was no way to make them.

They made their way silently to Marinettes house and slipped in the back door. Neither Marinette nor Adrien bothered with cleaning up and after dropping Alya onto one couch they collapsed to the other practically on top of each other. The kwamis were left to their own devices and everyone fell into a deep sleep that was only interrupted when Marinettes parents burst into the house at 7 am the next morning. They were overjoyed to find everyone ok and Alyas parents as well as Adrien's father was called for them to be picked up since it was obvious all three teens needed more sleep.

School was canceled for the rest of the week and after a day of solid rest Marinette woke feeling like a normal human being again. Surprisingly neither Adrien nor Alya was grounded since both said they were taken by the akuma early on and neither of their parents had any proof as to otherwise. Adrien complained that he was being watched like a hawk however so it was with great reluctance that they decided to hold off on the surprise they had in store for Alya. She had awakened with no memories from the past week which had scared her parents more than anything but Marinette had shown up as Ladybug to explain that their daughter had saved them in return for her memories. Alya had been ecstatic and showed Ladybug the few photos she had in her phone of when she had been changed into Lumara while asking a million questions about the event. She posted the whole shebang on her blog which made her viewings soar to unprecedented levels. It also helped that the news station also had some crazy footage of the epic battle till Ladybug had used their chopper as a Firework platform. All in all considering the terror the akuma Morte had held over Paris things were rapidly returning to normal.

A week passed with no akuma attacks and as Friday ended Marinette invited Alya to her house for a sleepover. Alya eagerly accepted and the two girls had a ton of fun before deciding to make their way up to Marinettes room later in the evening.

"Try to stay a little quiet ok girls?" Tom called up after their giggling forms

"Ok Papa but we might watch a scary movie so if you hear a scream don't worry ok?" Marinette replied.

Tom chuckled at his daughter them made his way to his own room to settle in for the night.

"Who says I'm going to scream?" Alya demanded as they climbed into Marinettes room and shut the door behind them.

"Oh you probably will scream but not because of a movie." A voice rang out making Alya yelp.

"See!" Chat crowed excitedly before flipping over the edge of the bed and landing on silent feet.

"C-Chat Noir?!" Alya demanded as Marinette went over to his side and smacked him on the shoulder.

"Bad Kitty." Marinette scolded and Chat stuck his tongue out at her.

"Uh Marinette how in the hell do you know Chat Noir? Did Ladybug introduce you or something?" Alya demanded "Actually I don't think I ever asked… How in the hell do you know Ladybug?!"

Chat sniggered and Marinette smacked him again. "It's kind of a long story and it's why I asked you over for a sleep over tonight actually."

Chat grinned his tail twitching. They had wanted to do this a week ago once things had settled down. Him and Marinette had pretty much decided unanimously to reveal their secret identities to Alya. The kwamis had been surprisingly placid even agreeing with the decision without any argument. Eventually Tiki had told them that because Alya had already discovered the secret once, she would almost certainly discover it again since the magic charm on her had been broken. Plagg acted as if he didn't particularly care but Adrien knew that the kwami actually liked Alya.

"See you gave up far more than your memories when you went to help Chat and Ladybug fight Morte." Marinette said noticing how Chat pulled his phone out of nowhere.

At her questioning look Chat grinned "Her reaction is going to be epic." He said by explanation making Marinette roll her eyes. Alya however just looked confused.

"I… gave up… more?" Alya echoed drawing the twos attention back to the task at hand

Marinette nodded moving forward to squeeze her hands "You did. You gave up a secret that you have been trying to discover for a long time. You did it to protect us, at least that's what the kwamis told us." Marinette answered

Alya tilted her head her brain working a mile a minute as she tried to puzzle Marinettes words apart. Her words should have made sense, should have given Alya an AH HA! Kind of moment but instead they left her frustrated and more confused than ever.

Marinette saw her friend struggling to remember things that were no longer there and she smiled stepping back. "Alya you are my best friend. You have saved both mine and Chats life. We owe you a lot and you have our complete confidence that you will keep our secrets no matter the cost to yourself."

Alya froze as she watched her friend all thoughts forgotten as a red creature came out of Marinettes purse floating up to hover near Marinettes head.

"Hello again Alya." Tiki squeaked and Alyas mouth dropped open but no sound came out.

"I don't think she gets it still." Chat snickered from behind and Marinette smiled realizing that Alya was in fact probably going to scream once her brain regained its functioning. Alya did understand she was just in shock.

"We should help her out." Tiki giggled cutely and Marinette grinned at her kwami in full agreement.

"Tiki Spots On!"

If you guys want to see what the lucky charm looked like look up Largest firework in the world, Malta Festival. The thing is freaken epic!