An odd, cold sensation washed over Cat Noir. He wasn't sure what happened at first, but he knew Ladybug was shouting at him. What is this feeling?
Then came the voice, spoken directly into his mind. Though he knew the source of it was only a couple feet in front of him, it sounded like it was inside him. Hawk Moth. Cat Noir had been hit by an akuma.
"Cat Noir," the voice dominated Cat Noir's thoughts, cutting through all the anger and grief, driving him mad, "Why do you resist me? Why do you fight me? You can use that anger for something else."
"NO!" Cat Noir shouted back, clutching at his head, trying to drive the voice away. He couldn't focus on what was around him anymore, but it sounded like Ladybug and Hawk Moth were still fighting. Cat Noir was breathing heavily, trying to steel himself, to shove away the influence.
"I'm not the one you're angry with," Hawk Moth's voice came again, "It's Ladybug. She always gets all the credit, she's the one everyone loves. No one thinks you're anything compared to her. Nobody loves you!"
Hawk Moth's words but deep. It sounded so true, like something he knew all along, but refused to admit. That's right, Cat Noir felt his resolve slipping, it's always been all about Ladybug, no one has ever cared for me. No one!
Then another voice pierced through his muddled thoughts as his will broke, a voice that spoke with such warmth and conviction, it reached him even as he felt himself ready to give way to the akuma's influence. It was Ladybug's voice, calling out to him, trying to reach him before it was too late.
"That's not true!" he heard her shouting, her voice desperate, but it sounded sweet and warm, "Everyone loves you! I… I love you!"
As the darkness of the akuma began to consume him, Cat Noir felt a renewed spark of vigor from deep within. Ladybug… loves me? he wondered. His own internal voice sounded so weak and pathetic, smothered by Hawk Moth's power, but he felt his strength returning. His will, shattered by depression and anger, was being restored. His eyes began to refocus, seeing the world around him once more. The cold sensation began to recede, replaced by a warmth Cat Noir feared he would never feel. Ladybug loves me! he told himself, everyone loves me! The only one that never loved me is… father.
"NO!" Ladybug shouted, leaping forward and striking at Hawk Moth, trying to distract him, "Cat Noir, you have to fight it!"
Cat Noir landed on the ground and stumbled, dropping his staff as he clutched at his head. His teeth were clenched, emitting a low growl as he tried to fight off the influence. Ladybug knew firsthand how difficult that was. Even with a strong will, it was nearly impossible to resist the temptation of Hawk Moth's honeyed words.
"Cat Noir," Hawk Moth spoke aloud, though Ladybug knew those words were driven directly into Cat Noir's head, "Why do you resist me? Why do you fight me? You can use that anger for something else."
"NO!" Cat Noir was shouting, trying to resist.
Ladybug attacked again, doing whatever she could to distract Hawk Moth, prevent him from speaking to Cat Noir. The missiles had stopped firing, which gave her some breathing space, but now she was in a desperate one-on-one with Cat Noir's allegiance on the line. It worked for but a brief moment, but she was thrust back again, giving Hawk Moth the opportunity to speak again.
"I'm not the one you're angry with," Hawk Moth said, speaking with conviction, "It's Ladybug. She always gets all the credit, she's the one everyone loves. No one thinks you're anything compared to her. Nobody loves you!"
"That's not true!" Ladybug shouted, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she tried to silence Hawk Moth, "Everyone loves you! I… I love you!"
Ladybug was breathing heavily as she made her declaration of love, looking to Cat Noir with compassion, desperation, and love. She watched him closely, seeing the change coming over him slowly. His eyes seemed to refocus, and his whole body relaxed. She found herself smiling, heart beating furiously as she witnessed what she hoped was his restored will to fight the akuma off. Hawk Moth's expression, on the other hand, showed sudden shock and, oddly, a sense of understanding. The room seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Then Cat Noir stood up straight and spoke, his voice strong and confident again. "No," he said with a growl, "No, I won't listen to you anymore. You can't order me about anymore!" With a yell of defiance, the akuma was thrust out of his ring, flying free once again. Hawk Moth looked taken aback, uncertain how to cope with this development.
Ladybug quickly whipped out her yoyo and caught the akuma before it could do any harm. Cat Noir, in the meantime, was charging forward again, his right hand reaching out for Hawk Moth. The villain was still in shock, unable to recover his wits in time to dodge.
"Cataclysm!" Cat Noir shouted as his hand lunged forward. Ladybug felt a chill run down her spine as she was consumed by dread, realizing what was happening. No, she cried inside, don't do this… She readied her yoyo to grab his arm, but too late. Before she could react or Hawk Moth could dodge, the power of destruction enveloping Cat Noir's hand struck the villain in the chest.