So I think this is the last chapter to the Butterfly War. I have a few small ideas for other things that could happen with this story but they really don't feel like being written and I don't want to end on an awkward note in some future chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed what I have written though and you can expect more crazy stories in the future! Also guess what's coming in October! Dun dun dun… The Skeletons Dance! The long awaited sequel to the Meaning of Marigolds. So I hope to see you all there! Also its up! My youtube account is up an running so if you would like to listen to me reading some of my stories type in Tandem Lies in the search bar. The channel is under is Kara Menzel. I'm working on getting the others up too!
Arxanum, ScarletSaphire... I found the cave system when I was out kayaking down the river. I frequently explore the caves and trees at the rivers edge because I like jumping out of them... or swinging out of them if I have rope on me.
Mistress Soul... Thank you! Requiem is definitely one of my more traumatizing sob stories. Its all my friends fault for challenging me.
obsidiandragon182005... I'm glad you have liked all of them! I made a bunch of people cry with Requiem and very soon you will be able to listen to me reading it!
Miraculous Ladybug AU where Hawkmoth has succeeded in taking over Paris and only after his success do the heroes Chat Noir and Ladybug emerge to help combat his tyranny.
A Butterflies War (Part 3)
Darkness fell quickly and Marinette helped her parents in the bakery until the rain slowed to a trickle while texting Adrien all the while. They had decided to meet at Marinettes house and Marinette had promised to feed Adrien when he came over. Unfortunately Adrien had to wait a while to sneak out but Marinette wasn't concerned about him navigating the streets in the dark. Tiki had told her that as Chat Noir anything would be hard pressed to find him in the darkness especially when he didn't want to be seen. It was after hours now as they worked as a family to clean and organize the bakery for the next day. Marinette frowned as she watched her parents nervously finish their separate tasks. Once it had gotten fully dark outside they both seemed far more tense than normal. Her mom had even locked the door as soon as the lights outside came on. It was odd to Marinette but she didn't dare ask questions especially since it was clearly something she should already know. They were getting ready to head up to eat dinner when all of the sudden a knock came at the door. Her parents tensed looking out the glass hesitantly. Marinette however recognized the person who had seemed to magically appear standing there.
"Adrien!" Marinette cried with a grin darting to the door to unlock it. He grinned at her through the glass eyeing the street watchfully. Jerking the door open Marinette pulled him in out of the damp closing the door swiftly behind him again.
Adrien grinned smugly at her "Hey Marinette!"
"Marinette lock the door and both of you come upstairs quickly!" Sabine hissed swiftly turning the lights off.
Marinette and Adrien glanced at each other both feeling a bit confused but they did as Sabine asked moving up the stairs with Tom following up last. Once they were on the main floor Marinette parents seemed to relax a tiny fraction and they turned to Adrien worried confused looked on their faces.
"Marinette dear, who is this?" Sabine asked finally when the two kids remained silent to the adults questioning glances.
"Oh I'm sorry how rude of me. My name is Adrien Agreste and I'm a classmates of Marinettes." Adrien said holding out his hand for her parents to shake.
They both shook his hand and this time it was Tom who spoke. "Son what are you doing out so late? You do realize curfew is in effect now correct?"
Adrien gave him a blank look then suddenly remembered about the curfew. "Oh… oops." He murmured and Marinette winced as well. She hadn't remembered about the curfew either.
"I…um… promised to feed him dinner!" Marinette said feeling a bit awkward. Neither of them had thought this through and it showed badly. Her parents just gaped at them and Adrien spoke up.
"I'm sorry for intruding. I can leave…" Adrien began
Sabine shook her head and Tom broke in before Adrien could say any more. "You're not going anywhere tonight. Its past curfew and there is no way we are letting you out to get attacked. You will stay here tonight in the spare room. Marinette can you get it set up?"
Adrien blinked surprised at the protective tone in Toms voice. It made him blush a little and Marinette grinned a little wryly. The next time they decided to meet they would have to remember about curfew.
"Yes papa. Come on Adrien I'll get you some clothes and stuff." Marinette answered and the two of them moved towards Marinettes room leaving two very bemused and slightly worried parents behind.
"Your parents are really nice." Adrien murmured once they were in her room.
Plagg shot out of his pocket the moment the door was closed. "Do you have any cheese?"
Marinette giggled as Adrien groaned "I just fed you!"
"Marinette has some cheese over here for you Plagg!" Tiki called from an almost hidden shelf.
Plagg zoomed over to her and Marinette moved to her drawers pulling out an oversized t-shirt and a pair of green sleepy pants. "Here you can use these." Marinette said returning to his side to give him the clothes.
Adrien took them with a smile. "I'm sorry about this. I guess we both forgot about the curfew. Think I can sneak out the back door?"
Marinette knew he wasn't serious and she swatted his shoulder lightly in jest. "No but we can use my skylight to go for a run once my parents fall asleep. For now though let's get your bed made up."
Together they made up the spare room and afterwards played some video games while her parents cooked dinner. They all ate together and Marinettes parents asked about school as well as several questions about Adrien. Adrien had never really had anyone so interested in him before so he eagerly answered any question her parents asked. Marinette smiled at him wondering what his home life was like that made him so happy to get out and away from it. When they were finally all talked out Marinette and Adrien cleaned up the kitchen as her parents prepared for bed. They spoke in hushed tones having already decided to go to sleep for a few hours before going out on their first patrol run.
After saying goodnight to her parents and Adrien, Marinette went to her room setting an alarm on her phone before climbing into her bed. Tiki joined her after a few moments curling up on Marinettes cat pillow.
"Your parents are very welcoming people." Tiki said her voice soft.
Marinette nodded with a smile. "They always have been Tiki. I'm a little surprised they didn't ask more questions but my mom once told me that everyone is entitled to their secrets. They have always given me my privacy but now that all this Hawkmoth stuff has happened I have to wonder if it will stay that way."
Tiki hummed softly "I think they will remain the way they have always been. I would just be a little more careful when it comes to the rules."
"Yeah." Marinette yawned turning over on her side. "We will be getting up in a little bit but for now Good night Tiki."
Tiki smiled at her chosen "Goodnight Marinette."
Something poked at her stirring Marinette from her slumber. A soft chiming joined in and Marinette grumbled opening her eyes to find Chat sitting off to the side one hand reaching forward to poke her nose.
"Stoooop." Marinette groaned twisting so that her face was hidden in her pillow.
Chat bounced on the bed "Come on Marinette! It's like 2 in the morning and there is no moon out! Lets go run!"
Marinette unburied her head while one hand snagged her phone to turn off the alarm. She had slept hard which wasn't surprising and now that she was waking up she too felt a trickle of excitement flow through her. Chat bounced on the bed again and this time Marinette sat herself upright with a giggle at his antics.
"Someone is an eager kitty." Marinette murmured wiping the sleep from her eyes as Tiki flew up to hover before her.
"Cats are creatures of the night by nature. Ladybugs are creatures of the day." Tiki said by way of explanation.
"You still want to go run right?" Chat asked his eyes wide and eager.
Marinette nodded pulling back her covers. "Yeah let me just check on my parents and then we can go."
"Already did." He said smugly "I wanted to make sure they weren't awake but I had already transformed so I went to check as is. It's easier to move quietly when you are a cat and your dad snores."
Marinette snickered and pushed herself up to her feet "Yeah he does. Alright Tiki Spots On!"
They left via skylight and stuck to the shadows as they made their way across Paris. There wasn't a soul to be seen on the streets and it made the two hero's a bit nervous even though they had expected it. They made a loop of the city memorizing places to hide and the easiest paths. They both knew they would need more practice to truly learn the city but they also knew that they didn't have a whole lot of time. Finally Ladybug called for a break and they stopped on a random rooftop to catch their breath.
"I'm glad both of your parents are in the city." Chat said softly.
Marinette blinked at him "Are your parents not?"
Chat shook his head. "My mom died when I was little but my father was away on business when Hawkmoth came through. Apparently he can't get back because there is some kind of shield over Paris that prevents passage to those who haven't been approved to leave."
Ladybug gaped at him. "There is a shield over Paris?!"
Chat nodded "The gorilla told me. Do you want to check it out?"
"Yes! If its preventing people from leaving we definitely should!" Ladybug answered.
They stood and Chat led the way since he could actually make out the slight glimmer of the shield in the air. Crossing a bridge they entered a park like area where statues of people littered the grounds. Ladybug went up to the closest one her hand automatically reaching out to touch it because it didn't seem right to her. Tiki hissed in her mind as she made contact making Ladybug jump.
"Whats up?" Chat asked as he came to stand beside her.
Ladybug had a look of horror on her face and after a long moment of silence she spoke telling him what Tiki had just told her. "These statues are living people!" She hissed. "I think we are in an akumas zone and apparently it can turn people to stone!"
Chat looked around them nervously. "It think all the areas near the shields edge are akuma zones. Lets just look at the shield and get out of here."
Ladybug agreed and since they didn't hear or see anything but the statues they continued forward arriving at the shield a minute later. Chat was the only one that could really see it and Ladybug halted when he did. Squinting at the air before her and frowning Ladybug found she could just barely make out a shimmer in the air. Taking a final step forward Ladybug reached out to press a hand to it. The shield felt odd to her like pressing her hands against the surface of jello. Leaning against it Ladybug yelped when all at once she fell through and tumbled to the grass.
"Ladybug!" Chat hissed darting back to her side. He didn't have any trouble bursting through the shield either and he held out a hand for Ladybug to pull herself up with. Together they eyed the shield warily especially now that they were on the wrong side. The two of them could hear cars on this side overlaying the normal night time sounds of the city. They could even make out laughter coming from deeper within the outlaying area.
"I guess the shield does more than keep people in." Chat muttered his ears twitching with every new sound.
Ladybug nodded reaching out to take Chats hand a bit nervously again "We need to see if we can get back in."
Together they took two steps forward crossing through the invisible shield this time with no issues at all. Silence surrounded them again and Ladybug let out a held breath releasing Chats hand with a smile.
"I…" She started only to be interrupted
"Well now I thought I sssmelled sssomething." A feminine voice hissed in the darkness.
Chat returned the hiss with a "Who's there?" instantly dropping into a half crouch as Ladybug reached for her yoyo.
Shadows shifted between two statues and a strange sight like something out of a Greek legend slithered forward. It was a snake woman her upper torso scaled and human while where her legs should have been only a long muscular tail remained. The most terrifying thing though was her face. She didn't have any eyes her head slightly oblong to show a mouth that opened far too wide and had way too many fang like teeth. From about two inches back away from the mouth to its neck the entire head was covered in what looked like dreads but at the end of each thick strand was an odd white looking ball. Talons covered her hands where her fingernails should have been.
"Who are you Medusa?" Chat asked when the snake creature stopped moving.
The hair poofed slightly at his voice, the balls bouncing on the ends of their strands as they twisted independently in the wind less night. A forked tongue flicked out and the lips pulled back revealing far too many teeth.
"I am Viper, and you are jussst sssome children." Viper hissed her tail twitching as she slithered forward a little. "You sssmell ssstrange though. Not quite hhuman but not akuma eithhher. What are you?"
Ladybug clenched Chats arm stopping him from speaking. "We are some new recruits making a quick round of the shielded area. We will be leaving now. Sorry if we disturbed your rest." Ladybug called hoping that Viper wouldn't notice the tremor in her tone.
"Fasssinating." Viper whispered her tail curling about her "Utterly amusssing. That isss a good one but I can sssmell your fear."
She lunged at them and Ladybug shoved Chat sideways as she went airborne. Viper slammed down where they had been her jaws snapping shut inches from where Chats foot was. He yelped in surprise and Viper twisted towards him jaws agape until Ladybug slammed back down on top of her back.
"Run!" Ladybug cried and Chat darted off on all fours out of Vipers range. Ladybug leaped off Vipers back trying to gain some distance as well. Before her feet could touch the ground however Vipers tail swung around and slammed into her. The blow was a harsh one and Ladybug smashed into a statue knocking it off its feet although it thankfully didn't break.
"Ladybug!" Chat roared catching her attention as she managed to get an arm under her. Viper was already lunging at her again jaws agape as they prepared to bite her in half. Ladybug froze in fear unable to even scream and everything moved in slow motion. Vipers jaws were a foot away from her head when booted feet suddenly slammed into the side of its head throwing Viper sideways. Chat snarled using its claws to slash at Vipers hair and back only to be tossed off as Viper screeched.
"Marinette move! You have to get the possessed item!" Tiki cried in her mind and Ladybug gasped suddenly her fear shattering at Tikis voice. Scrambling to her feet Ladybug threw her yoyo snagging Chat about his waist and pulled him out of harm's way as Vipers tail smashed down where he had been a moment earlier. Darting to her side Chat panted hard as Viper let out an earsplitting shriek.
"I think we pisssed her off" He remarked purposefully mocking Vipers stressed speech.
Ladybug rolled her eyes "We need to get her possessed item. We can stop her if we do!"
"You cant ssstop me!" Viper snarled lunging at them again her talons slashing down at them. The two heros dodged the assault both looking for anything out of place on the akuma. Nothing stood out to them and they fell back till their backs were once again at the shield.
"I don't see anything!" Ladybug cried feeling stressed Viper lunged at them her tail swinging around faster than she could dodge. The tail slammed into her tossing her right through the shield. Hitting the ground Ladybug shot right back to her feet to gape in horror as vipers talons tore into Chats back.
"Chat!" Ladybug screamed and launched herself back towards the shield. She wasn't going to make it though, Chats wound had shocked him for a second too long and Viper had managed to wrap him in her coils. Viper had Chat pinned her jaws unhinging as she prepared a fatal bite. Chat was hissing at her in fury his claws scrabbling over her smooth scales.
"You two ssshould have never tresssspasssed." Viper snarled her head lunging down.
Ladybugs yoyo slung around Vipers head and she pulled hard to the side making Viper miss her target. Viper reared back with a screech and Ladybug hauled on the yoyo string harder so that Vipers head cracked hard against the shield. Viper twisted in on herself at the harsh impact releasing Chat from her coils and not missing a beat Chat launched himself at her slamming her into the shield once more. Through the shield Chat could see Ladybug straining to keep Viper pinned by her head and seeing his gaze she mouthed
"Her Hair!"
Realization dawned and doing his best to avoid slashing teeth Chat grabbed at the dread like strands. Viper shrieked at the touch her whole body convulsing and almost throwing him off completely. As it was she jerked Ladybug back through the shied by the yoyo and Viper slung her head back trying to get rid of Chats weight. Chat clung with all his strength as Ladybug tumbled trying to brace herself on the ground. Viper shot forward at her and Ladybug dodged as Chats excess weight on Viper made it easier to avoid the attack. As Viper started to twist again a glimmer of purple caught Chats attention.
"That's it! Grab it kit!" Plagg hollered in his head and Chat released his death grip on one hand to snatch at the purple thing. As his hand closed around it Vipers whole body swung to the side smashing into the shield. The impact knocked Chat from his place and managing to keep a hold of the possessed item he hit the ground outside of the shield. Rolling upright Chat saw to his horror that Ladybug had been caught and only her yoyo firmly wrapped around Vipers mouth was the only thing preventing her from being bit. As it was Vipers talons were digging into her back but Ladybug held on stubbornly.
"Break it hurry!" Plagg snarled and Chat crushed the snake hairpin in his claws.
A black butterfly wiggled out and Chat slammed his baton down on it capturing it. Vipers body instantly dissolved dropping Ladybug and a woman to the grass just inside the shield. Chat managed to make it to his feet running forward through the shield and dropping to his knees at Ladybugs side. She grinned up weakly at him.
"Purify the butterfly." Ladybug whispered and Chat nodded forcing himself to stand up.
"Mystic Purge!" He called out black and green light swarming over his body healing him as it moved. The light swarmed away from him covering Ladybug before racing out in zigzags. The light swarmed the statues which one by one shattered freeing the trapped people. The light dissipated in the distance and Chat dropped to his knees helping Ladybug sit up.
"You… ok?" Chat panted suddenly feeling as if he had run a marathon now that the danger had passed.
Ladybug groaned "I think so? We should probably get out of here though."
The people who had been statues were starting to come around one or two already on their feet. The woman that had been Viper stirred as well asking "Where am I?" as they sat up.
"Agreed. Chat murmured and the two of them rose to their feet ignoring the suddenly fearful look Viper gave them.
"Please don't hurt me!" She whimpered and Chat blinked glancing at Ladybug who shrugged. Clearly the woman didn't remember being Viper which meant the people trapped in stone probably didn't remember what happened to them either.
"We aren't going to hurt you. We fixed you and you should really get out of here before any other akuma show up." Ladybug said keeping her voice gentle. She wanted to reach out to her but the woman was scared and Ladybug doubted she would want to be touched.
"Who… who are you?" Viper asked her voice still a frightened squeak.
Ladybug smiled but froze as she stared to answer. Chat knew she was listening to Tiki and he wondered what the kwami was saying. Finally just as the silence was about to become intolerable Ladybug answered. "You will know who we are soon enough. Just know that you are free along with every one else here. If you want to remain that way you need to get out of here."
With that said Ladybug jerked her head to Chat and the two of them darted away from the scene of the fight. They traveled quickly and silently through Paris but they had to hide several times when they saw an akuma moving towards them. Finally Marinettes house came into view and they practically sagged in delight when they hit her balcony. They released their transformations as soon as they were in her room and Marinette squealed in delight as she threw her arms around Adrien.
"We did it!" She squeaked her whole body practically vibrating with joy.
Adrien spun her around feeling his own heart filling with joy as well. "We did! We can do this!"
The two kwami watched amused as their chosen's chattered for several minutes going back over the battle and discussing what they could work better on.
"This is going to take a while." Plagg murmured to Tiki who nodded
"It's only going to get harder too but they worked so well together. I think this is the best partnership so far. I really believe they will be able to do this." Tiki answered
It was going to be a long road. One of hardship and most definitely trouble but seeing how his kit and Tikis bug were clinging together, happy grins on their faces Plagg for once agreed.