Chapter 5 - The Battle (from Chloé's POV)

As we ran toward the arch, I kept thinking to myself, can I really be as good as the real Ladybug? She's been my personal hero for a long time, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint her. But I have to stay focused and stop doubting myself… everything depends on us defeating this akuma. Maybe even Ladybug's life.

When we reached the base of the arch, Chat Noir pulled out his phone and brought up a photo. "Here's what Eclipser's costume looks like. Maybe it'll help you figure out where the akuma is hidden. We already know it isn't in the belt."

I studied the photo for a while. He was wearing a shiny metallic black helmet, with no distinctive markings on it. His shirt was pretty much a star chart… black with dots on it. I could even recognize some of the constellations on it. Below that, his belt buckle was designed to look like a solar eclipse, and his pants and shoes were solid gray. I still wasn't sure what to make of it, and I handed him his phone back.

Suddenly, Eclipser announced, "I'm still waiting up here! Bring me your miraculous now!"

I was incredibly nervous, but I didn't have time to stand around and fret. I closed my eyes and started telling myself to think like a hero… be the hero that Paris needs. A preliminary plan started to form in my head, and I decided to take charge of the situation.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do," I told Chat. "First I'll use my lucky charm and see what it tells me. Then I'll go on top of the arch and stall to give myself time to figure out where the akuma is. I'll keep my communicator turned on, and when I'm ready for you to help, I'll signal you. Let him know that I'm coming up."

Chat had a concerned look on his face. "Are you sure, Chloé- er, Ladybug? It'll be more dangerous if you're up there by yourself. You'll be a sitting duck."

"Don't worry, Chat, I know what I'm doing." Oh God, I wasn't sure if I really believed that, but I needed to trust my instincts. I was scared, but I needed to stay calm.

Chat put his hands over his mouth, tilted his head back, and yelled out, "You win, Eclipser. We don't want anyone to get hurt. We're coming up to give you our miraculous." While he did that, I threw the yo-yo above me and cried out, "Lucky Charm!" Something very strange dropped into my hands, and I studied it with a puzzled look.

I recognized it as an old-fashioned toy that Daddy passed down to me years ago. It was made of two wooden cones joined at their points. You were supposed to move a string back and forth in the center to spin it and do tricks with it. But what could this possibly have to do with anything? I looked around, and didn't see anything that gave me any additional clues.

Well, the time has come for me to act. I'll have to stay calm and keep my mind open for possibilities.

Before going up, I whispered some instructions to Chat. Then I grabbed a couple pebbles from the street, flung my yo-yo onto the top of the arch, and jumped up so that I was facing Eclipser. He was standing on the opposite side, and the two hostages were tied up in the center.

"I'm here, Eclipser," I told him. "Chat Noir is on his way up now. We'll give you our miraculous as soon as you release the two hostages safely."

He retorted, "No negotiation until both of you are up here!"

I expected him to say that, so I didn't let it phase me. I calmly answered, "Well, as a sign of good faith, I'll give you mine now."

I reached up to my right ear lobe, while at the same time studying the scene before me. I felt that the lucky charm was drawing me toward his shirt. Think Chloé, what do I do now?

I thought about the shape of the toy, and what that would have to do with a belt. My eyes went over his shirt, looking at each constellation. Suddenly, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head… on the left side of his shirt, near his neck, there was a constellation that seemed to be bulging out slightly, as if there were something underneath. The constellation was Orion, which was sort of shaped like the toy I had received... and I realized that the three stars in the middle were called the BELT! How was I even able to remember that? Evidently science class is good for something after all!

I took my right earring off, so he could see that I was starting to detransform. Quickly, I pretended to take the left one off, then threw the pebbles toward him, being careful to hold onto the earring. He was caught completely off guard, and frantically reached out to grab for the flying "earrings."

"Chat Noir, NOW!" I shouted as I put the right earring back in. Chat had already activated his cataclysm before I went up, and at my signal, he used it on the right side of the arch. It began disintegrating, and Eclipser started to lose his balance. I flung my yo-yo at him, aiming it toward Orion. It shattered, and the purple butterfly came fluttering out. A few seconds later, Chat Noir reported that he had caught the akumatized professor and that he was safe.

The top of the arch was becoming unstable, so I flung the yo-yo out toward the two men. It wrapped around them, and I dragged them over to where I was on the left side of the arch. Not wanting to give the akuma a chance to get away, I quickly tossed the yo-yo and grabbed it. When I retrieved it and opened the top, a white butterfly emerged. I put my hand on my forehead, and relief swept over me. I had actually done it!

Before forgetting, I threw the toy into the air and called out, "Miraculous Ladybug!" Within seconds, the arch had rebuilt itself. I prayed that all of the victims had been released from their paralysis, including the real Ladybug.

After a few seconds, Chat joined me on top of the arch. After we untied the two men, Chat put his hand on my shoulder and said, "That was spectacular. You really have the makings of a superhero."

I was so touched by his words, and rather than saying "Of course I do!" like I would have before, I suddenly felt very humble and appreciative of the opportunity I was given.

Chat and I each held onto one of the men as we got them off of the arch. Then we left and found a safe spot for me to detransform. It was sort of sad to think that I wouldn't get to be Ladybug again, but frankly this was the adventure of a lifetime. I said "spots off", and after I did Tikki appeared again. Immediately, that same feeling of familiarity came over me. What was it?

"Well done, Chloé!" she told me. "You made a fantastic Ladybug. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you Tikki. I enjoyed working with you." Then I asked, "Can I please have a hug from you? You're so cute." I snuggled up against her for a minute, and then I took the earrings off, causing her to be absorbed back into them. I handed the earrings to Chat, and he put them back into the case.

"I must be going now Chloé, as I'm about to transform back myself. Will you be able to get a ride back home?"

"Oh of course, I'll just call Daddy and have him send Jean Lunacy over here to pick me up." Then I said, "Chat… before you go, I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that you chose me for this assignment."

"You're welcome Chloé. I'm glad that I did too. You work very well under pressure." With that, he used his staff to propel himself away.

As I started to call home, a wave of realization hit me like a freight train, and my eyes grew wide. I thought to myself, it can't be true… can it? But it must be! I dropped to my knees and grabbed the sides of my head, mentally beating myself up. This was the last thing I would ever have expected to happen, and I knew I had some crow to eat tomorrow morning.