MB: Warning: There is blood in this scene, but nothing gory.
CHAPTER TEN:
THE CHALLENGE
KRA-THOOM!
The crack of lightning exploded in the sky, sending a thundering chill through Marinette as she stood exposed in the sudden, angry storm.
The Forty Thieves had escorted her to the top of Mount Sesame, where a stone platform protruded from the jagged peak like a massive disk. Upon arriving, the thieves lit up the metal braziers surrounding the platform, which was engraved with several stone rings containing horrific pictures in their folds: snakes, tigers, sharks, raptors – vicious beasts that gave the space a foreboding aura.
Marinette didn't need to ask what kind of platform she was standing on, for she already knew: it was a fighting ring.
She watched the Forty Thieves gather outside the outer ring. Most of them were passing bags of coin to each other or taking tallies on a scroll. Marinette had seen brawls in the streets of Agreste; she knew a bet when she saw one. And she didn't need to ask who they were betting on to win.
Bridgette stood by her sister's side the whole time, along with the pink-haired girl called Alix. They moved Marinette to one side of the platform marked with a black triangle, which would serve as Marinette's starting point.
On the opposite side stood Hawkmoth, surrounded by his entourage of fans. Every look he gave Marinette made her skin crawl. He's scarier than Volpina, she thought, and Bridgette wants me to fight him?
If that wasn't bad enough, Bridgette already knew about Plagg. Surprisingly, she assured Marinette that no harm would come to the kwami... so long as he stayed out of the fight.
"Any intervention on any fighter's behalf disqualifies that fighter," the Queen explained, "and no magic of any sort must be involved."
That also meant Marinette couldn't use her magic yo-yo. She would have to use her family's dagger.
Plagg looked at his friend. "I can help you escape," he offered. "One blast of magic and we're outta here."
Marinette bit her lip, remembering how the burly thief Ivan had snagged the magic carpet. With their ride home grounded, Plagg was her only safe shot of getting out of this mess. But then Marinette would recall Hawkmoth's sword hovering just inches above Bridgette. If she ran away, her sister would get the blame. Well, more blame than she already had, anyway.
So Marinette shook her head at Plagg. "I can't leave Bridgette. I have to do this their way..." She had glanced sharply at her older sister. "... whether I like it or not."
Marinette thought she saw Bridgette's throat bob a little. She ignored it as she folded her arms and asked lowly, "So what's going on, sis? How do I win this Challenge of yours?"
Bridgette's mouth twisted as though she were chewing on her next words. "Well, it's simple enough," she stated as optimistically as she could. "Only one fighter survives."
"Survives?!" Marinette and Plagg blurted out in unison.
The young blunette really shouldn't have been so surprised – these were the Forty Thieves, after all – but a small part of her had desperately hoped that, for once, she wouldn't have to fight for her life.
Nervously, Marinette glanced back at Hawkmoth.
Lightning flashed off his long, steel sword, and his silver mask gleamed as he grinned wickedly at the blunette. Against the backdrop of the storm and the braziers, he looked like a demon from the valley of the dead, coming to claim his victim.
Marinette's cheeks reddened with hot anger. "You're joking," she growled between her teeth without looking at Bridgette. "This was your brilliant idea?!"
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she forced herself to look back at the Queen of Thieves. Despite the bravado in her sister's eyes, Marinette could tell there was a hint of uneasiness in them.
"You are my sister," Bridgette said calmly, holding out the dagger to Marinette. "You'll be that fighter."
Marinette blinked at her suspiciously. Is she is serious? Does she actually believe I can beat Hawkmoth? Maybe their brief fight in Agreste had given Bridgette good reason to trust Marinette's capabilities. Whatever the case, it was a risky move. But hopefully not a costly one.
With a firm grunt, Marinette accepted the dagger. The hilt fit elegantly in her hand, like it had been made for her.
"All right, show time," Alix said. "C'mon, Kittycat – Her Majesty said you're staying with me for the fight."
Plagg shot Marinette a worried expression: whiskers drooping, pupils broad and fearful.
The girl did her utmost best to smile for him. "I'll be all right, Plagg. Go."
The black-cat kwami didn't buy it, but he sighed with defeat. "Good luck," he muttered dismally as he hovered over to the Queen's second-in-command.
Bridgette patted her sister on the back. "Knock him dead, kid," she said. "Seriously."
Marinette tried not to laugh. Sure, if Hawkmoth doesn't kill me first.
Breathing steady so as to calm her erratic nerves, Marinette removed her mahogany poncho and dropped it gently on the ground. Then, she stepped into the fighting ring.
Across from her, Hawkmoth moved towards her. His smug expression now made Marinette's blood boil. Scarier than Volpina, and with just as big of an ego.
The crowd of thieves let out one ferocious cheer as a single boy stepped out onto the ring: a dark-skinned, gangly boy with big glasses who reminded Marinette of Nino and Alya.
For once, she was glad her friends – and Adrien – weren't around to see this.
The dark boy – Max, he was called – walked to the edge of the outer ring, holding a sword with both hands. "Short and simple, people," he called over the thunder in a mousy voice. "One fight, one winner. No respites, no surrender, no mercy."
Marinette strapped the dagger to her belt before sizing up her opponent.
Hawkmoth was taller and stronger than she was, but that was also a disadvantage for him. Speed and agility would be the key to beating him, and Marinette knew from experience that a well-built man would tire after too many attacks. Strong people exerted too much energy during fights in the hope of making quick work of the competition. All Marinette had to do was stay away from his sword and any hard blows.
Easy peasy. I hope.
Max lifted his sword up towards the stormy sky, and silence fell like a pall over the platform.
Hawkmoth readied his own weapon like a fencer ready to strike.
Marinette crouched in a defensive stance. Let him make the first move, she thought.
Max glanced between the two fighters... and his sword came down.
Hawkmoth stepped to his left. Marinette did the same. Around the circle they orbited each other, never so much as blinking.
"You're far out of your league, Ladybug," the masked man taunted. "It was here in this very ring that I proved myself worthy to be called the King of Thieves."
Marinette nodded with intrigue. "But I bet you've never gone up against a sorceress. Twice." Strike a nerve, she told herself. It'll get him off balance. "And, last I checked, you gave up your throne to become a silver doormat."
"Oooohhh..." several thieves whispered with fearful jitters.
Is it me they fear for, or Hawkmoth? Marinette already knew the answer.
Hawkmoth let out a careless harrumph. "Ironic words coming from the prince's pretty, palace pet. I may not be a sorcerer, but when this is over, you're going to wish you had stayed in Agreste." Hawkmoth stopped walking and brought his sword to his side, his eyes narrowed. "Perhaps I'll send you back home in a golden casket, as my wedding gift to your charming groom."
Marinette crouched again, her fists clenched and her eyes narrowed.
Behind her opponent, she spotted Bridgette giving Hawkmoth a look that could freeze water.
Then, Hawkmoth struck.
He moved so fast, Marinette almost didn't react in time. She rolled out of the way of Hawkmoth's sword, which struck the stones with a vicious clang.
BOOM! Thunder exploded above them.
Marinette dodged another attack, only to exit the ring and bump into several of the watching thieves. They chuckled and unkindly shoved her back into the ring.
Marinette regained her balance before Hawkmoth charged at her again.
The other thieves stomped their feet and pounded their chests in response.
Bridgette was the only one not cheering.
Her teeth chattered as though an eerie chill had seeped into her skin, despite the heat of the roaring braziers.
She saw Hawkmoth swipe again at Marinette, the blade missing her chest by a breath-width. Bridgette almost lost her own breath in the process.
Marinette kept dodging, never once reaching for her dagger, which made the Queen of Thieves all the more anxious.
All the pharaohs and their mothers, what have I done?
Marinette swerved to the right, slipping underneath Hawkmoth's swinging arm. Then, she sank low to the ground and swung her leg out against her opponent's.
Hawkmoth fell hard onto the stones, and there were a few gasps of surprise from the audience.
Marinette rose up and stepped back. She could have easily made her own attack, but she refused to give the Forty Thieves the satisfaction. Fight to the death or no, Ladybug was no killer.
Hawkmoth snapped to Marinette, and his mask flared with a flash of lightning: an ungodly skull with ruthless eyes of ice that made Marinette think suddenly of Adrien, trapped in that frozen slab with all the warmth draining out of him.
A gleam caught her eye, but Marinette was too late.
Hawkmoth thrust forward, and the blunette danced away...
... until the swordsman's blade swung again in the blink of an eye.
Something thin and cold sliced along Marinette's arm. She felt sudden, electric jolt of pain.
Then, she screamed.
Bridgette gasped, covering her mouth.
"Mari!" Plagg cried.
Alix winced and looked away.
The other members of the Queen's Seven bore expressions of horror and pity, but the other thieves were going mad with glee.
The following ruckus was deaf to Bridgette's ears as she watched her little sister sink to her knees, clutching her left arm. Marinette panted through her teeth, her face red and scrunched.
Hawkmoth laughed, and the storm laughed with him.
Panic seized Bridgette, stronger than it ever had before. Before she knew it, she was trying to wade her way through the excited crowd. When they wouldn't budge, Bridgette tried shoving them aside. But they were too strong and too many.
And besides, there was the Code to consider. Bridgette had grown up with it. The rules were practically engraved onto her bones; embedded in her soul.
But surely... just this once...
No, a firm voice spoke inside Bridgette's head. You made your choice. You chose to trust Marinette. Give her a chance.
Bridgette swallowed something hard down her throat, but she ignored the hurt.
At that moment, as though Fate had deemed it so, Marinette lifted her head to gaze at her older sister.
Their eyes met, both a solid yet profound blue... like pale stones with a hidden light.
Bridgette felt a strange surge of courage flow through her, and she nodded at Marinette. "Come on, sister," she whispered. "Fight."
Something other than pain appeared on Marinette's face as she stared at the Queen of Thieves. It looked like unbending resolve.
Then, Hawkmoth stepped between the two sisters, obscuring Marinette from Bridgette's view.
Though the pain in her left arm felt like it had been stung by a horde of wasps, and she could feel the growing warmth on her sleeve, Marinette refocused her teary-eyed vision on her opponent.
She inhaled deeply through her nose and reached for her side with her good hand.
Hawkmoth's shadow loomed over her, and his chuckle rumbled like the thunder in the air. "So much for family," he jeered. Then, he raised his sword.
At the same time, Marinette's hand found the dagger's hilt.
In one swift stroke, she drew the blade and blocked Hawkmoth's weapon, stopping it right above her face. Gripping the dagger with both hands now, Marinette dug her feet into the ground and pushed.
An aura of shock swept over the crowd.
Only a single, tiny voice spoke out. "Yeah! Atta girl, Marinette!" Plagg cheered as he jumped up and down on Alix's shoulder.
The kwami's voice heightened Marinette's determination, and she gave the former King of Thieves a steely scowl as she rose up.
Hawkmoth seemed caught off guard by her hidden reservoir of willpower, but he never broke off from the parry. He pushed his own weapon down further.
Marinette groaned, her wound seizing up again, but she refused to back down. The pain made her head swim, and she knew the blood hadn't clotted yet. I have to finish this now! Marinette thought as she struggled against Hawkmoth's bearing weight. But how?
Thinking quickly, Marinette swung her opponent's blade off to the side. She took this chance to land Hawkmoth a hard kick to the stomach and a punch to the jaw – with her good hand, of course.
Hawkmoth stumbled forward... right into a brazier. He didn't get burned, but the momentum caused him to knock over the metal bowl.
The whole thing came down with a fiery explosion, and burning coals rolled onto the stones like balls of red fire. A few of the thieves leapt away from the flames, which continued to burn steadily along the ground.
Marinette panted and took this opportunity to check her arm. The top half of her sleeve was soaked in blood. She couldn't see the cut, but she could tell it was a little deep. Marinette covered the wound with her hand again, biting back the sting.
Meanwhile, Hawkmoth was massaging his middle, wheezing slightly from Marinette's blow. Other than that, he looked more impressed than angry. The fallen flames danced red off of his silver mask.
"For a girl who is too afraid to take a life," Hawkmoth noted coldly as he turned to Marinette, "you know how to fight dirty." He beckoned her to him with his free hand. "Let's even the score, shall we?"
This time, Marinette was the one to strike first.
Their blades clashed, and lightning crashed.
But Hawkmoth was a lot stronger than Marinette thought. He was undoubtedly sweating, but he still had a lot of fight left in him. Marinette's wound was slowing her down, her strength waning away.
Hawkmoth parried again, only this time, he faked going left before moving right, spinning around Marinette.
His sword pommel slammed right between Marinette's shoulder blades, sending her back down on her hands and knees. She barely had time to cry out before Hawkmoth's foot collided with her middle, and she went rolling along the ground before coming to a stop on her sore stomach.
Voices rang out in the distance. Marinette couldn't tell who they belonged to, or what they were saying. Everything hurt, and she was so tired. Get up! she yelled inside her head. Get up! GET UP!
Then, two hands heaved her up.
The moment Marinette's feet left the ground, her senses came back to life and her eyes shot open.
She was in the air, staring up the ominous, lightning-split sky.
Hawkmoth was holding her above his head like a trophy.
The hard wind was as cold as ice, and it carried the salty tang of the ocean with it. Marinette didn't need to wonder what Hawkmoth was trying to do.
She squirmed and kicked out with all her might, but it was no use.
"No!" cried a faint voice from the roaring crowd. Bridgette's voice.
Then, Hawkmoth threw Marinette off the edge of the platform.
She fell with a high-pitched scream into a freezing pit of darkness. Down, down, down...
Wind tore at Marinette's face as she rolled into an upright position. The great, black ocean lay on one side of her. The rock wall of the mountain lay on the other.
And Marinette still had her dagger.
Wasting no time, Marinette pulled the blade back and plunged it into the rock.
SSCCCREEEEEEEESSSSSSHHHH!
Sparks flew from the collision, but the dagger went in deep as Marinette dragged it down. Gritting her teeth, Marinette held on with both hands. Come on, come on, come on!
Her arms burned. The rush of water grew louder.
Then, Marinette slowed down.
The wind died as she stopped sliding and came to rest at long last. Now, she was hanging off the wall from her dagger like a heavy bag.
Marinette panted, her heart beating much too fast for her breathing to keep up with it.
Then... she laughed. It was frazzled, giddy laughter; the laugh of a person who just realized they had stayed the hand of death.
Marinette glanced up at her dagger. "Thank you..." she rasped.
She glanced around her, hoping for something along the rock wall to grab onto.
Oh! There was a thin ledge running along the side, just a few feet below her.
Marinette laughed again, and let go of the dagger.
She slid down the rock until she landed on the ledge. There was just enough room for her to walk along. But, of course, Marinette looked down and saw the horrible fate that awaited her: roiling, foamy waves of water against a backdrop of wet boulders. From Marinette's spot, it looked like a straight, thirty-foot drop. Maybe forty. She was too disoriented to tell.
The ocean mist coated her face and clothes, and Marinette sighed against the wall, realizing just how lucky she truly was.
But this wasn't over yet. She had to keep fighting; she had to win this somehow. She thought about Adrien, and the wedding they were going to have...
Something was coming.
Marinette blinked in confusion. It sounded like a blade sharpening on a whetstone.
She looked up, and gasped.
There was no denying the silver head, or the long sword the figure was using to ease himself safely down the rock.
The figure landed a few feet away from Marinette, and lightning flashed once more, revealing the triumphant grin of Hawkmoth.
Marinette stiffened and back away. This guy is insane!
Hawkmoth let out another dark cackle and pointed his sword at his helpless opponent. "Your charmed streak has finally run out, Ladybug," he said cruelly.
Anger burned inside Marinette's veins, and she glared at Hawkmoth with bared teeth. She wasn't going to go down like this, not when everyone she knew and loved was waiting for her back home! She had made a promise to Adrien, and Marinette never broke her promises!
Lightning flashed again, and something gleamed above Marinette.
Looking up, she remembered. The dagger was still imbedded in the rock!
A sly grin worthy of Cat Noir appeared on Marinette's face, and she looked back at Hawkmoth. "Not tonight!" she declared over the crashing sea.
Then, she sprinted forward. One step. Two steps.
Hawkmoth drew his sword back just as Marinette jumped.
But instead of tackling the swordsman like he thought she would, the brave blunette grabbed onto the dagger's hilt instead.
It held her weight as she swung over and kicked Hawkmoth right in his exposed chest.
He stumbled back... right up to the very edge of the thin path.
As she landed, Marinette caught a glimpse of Hawkmoth's eyes – blue, furious, and shocked.
Her own eyes widened as the silver-masked man lost his balance.
Without thinking, Marinette rushed forward and reached for him, but she was too late.
Hawkmoth slipped over the edge with a furious cry of terror.
Marinette's breath caught in her throat. She kneeled at the edge, her hand still stretching out to the darkness.
She didn't see where Hawkmoth went, and his voice had already faded into the cacophonic rush of the sea. All Marinette saw now were the churning, dark waves. All she heard was the water drumming against the rocks.
Marinette let out a small shudder. But I... I didn't mean... I just...
But there was no denying the truth now. Hawkmoth was gone.
Something plopped beside Marinette, making her jump.
But it was just a rope.
Marinette followed it all the way to the top of the mountain, where everyone else was no doubt waiting for her – their champion.
That's right. She had won.
Which meant that she was safe. Plagg was safe. Bridgette was safe.
Then why did Marinette feel so terrible?
She cast one last mournful look at the sea below. Hawkmoth may have tried to kill her, but no one deserved to die in cold, crushing darkness.
Marinette offered him a pitiful prayer.
Then, she grabbed onto the rope and began to climb, stopping only to retrieve her dagger.
Not once did she look back down.
The rope jerked.
The storm was subsiding now. The fight was over.
Which meant only one fighter was left.
Bridgette tried to warm her frigid hands as she held them against her chest. She wasn't the praying-type, but now she was wishing with all her heart that it was her little sister climbing back up to her, and not Hawkmoth.
If she lost... Bridgette thought as she stood silently amongst her fellow thieves. If she's gone... It's all because of me.
Perhaps the Queen of Thieves was cursed with misfortune.
Beside her, Plagg was nibbling on his claws, quivering nervously. Alix petted him to try and calm him down.
Kim, Juleka, Max, Mylene, Ivan, and Rose kept glancing between the rope, each other, and their queen.
Then, a hand grasped the edge of the platform.
Everyone gasped.
Wait... That wasn't a large, gloved, manly hand.
Relief and joy burst from Bridgette's heart as she saw Marinette heave herself up and collapse onto the stone ground.
No one said a word, but the Queen of Thieves could tell they were all utterly dumbstruck by the young blunette's appearance.
It couldn't be, their expressions said. This mere girl defeated their most ruthless swordsman – the former King of Thieves?
Bridgette couldn't care less what they thought. Her sister was alive, and her archenemy was gone.
The Queen of Thieves ignored the eyes of her thirty-nine astounded cohorts as she walked over to Marinette and extended a gracious hand.
Her sister looked at it for a long second before grasping it and allowing Bridgette to pull her to her feet. She looked as pale as a ghost, and there was dirt and sweat caked upon her face. Her arm had stopped bleeding, thankfully, but it still looked nasty.
First thing was first.
Bridgette drew herself up with an expressionless, stone-eyed gaze. "You have killed Hawkmoth," she announced, and the wind carried her words across the platform.
Marinette glanced fearfully at the crowd of brigands behind the queen and shook her head. "I didn't mean to!" she insisted, her voice hoarse and dry. "It was an accident!"
Murmurs and whispers sounded behind Bridgette, but with one wave of her hand, they were silenced.
"Accident or not," Bridgette stated, "the Code of the Forty Thieves is clear on this point."
Her sister swallowed hard.
Then, Bridgette smiled proudly and shrugged. "You're in."
"I'm... what?" Marinette blurted out, her face the picture of incredulity.
The Queen of Thieves patted her sister on the shoulder. "You faced the Challenge and survived. By defeating Hawkmoth, you have proven yourself worthy to join our ranks." She winked at Marinette. "Welcome to the Forty Thieves, little sister."
This time, the applause of all the men and women on the platform were music to the Queen's ears.