-Past-
Adrien sat staring off in the direction that Marinette had disappeared to. He sat thinking in a daze for what felt like a long time before a small black blur zoomed from the inside of his shirt.
"Kid, I don't understand you sometimes. A female told you her feelings and you didn't feel compelled to take her right there?"
"Plagg! That isn't how it works!" Adrien said trying not to picture what that would look like. He immediately felt guiltier. Marinette had tears in her eyes when she had turned back to look at him. He'd never seen his friend look so hurt.
"I have to tell her the truth. She was my first real friend here. I owe her that." With that, he ignored a protesting Plagg and started to jog towards the parking lot. She would understand. She had to.
Reaching the first row of cars he stopped to look around. The sun had set and the streetlights were starting to turn on. There was the strong smell of smoke in the air. Was that all from the fire pit? Hearing footsteps approaching behind him, he turned to see a concerned Alya and an out of breath Nino.
"Hey Dude." Nino sputtered putting his hand on his knees. "Have you seen Marinette?"
"She was supposed to be with you!" Alya pleaded looking frantic. Adrien immediately read the situation. The smell. It wasn't just the fire pit. There must be an akuma attack!
"Have you tried calling her? She ran in this direction last I saw her. Where was the attack?" Adrien blurted out all at once, trying to catch up. He had a sick feeling that Marinette was in danger or worse.
"Alya was by the fountain filming wide shots of the picnic when she called me. It was happening there too." Nino said pointing to the direction of the fountain.
"It's bad, Adrien. I couldn't see who it was, and I-I hid. And Mari's phone. It-it goes straight to voicemail every time I call." Alya choked out trying not to let herself cry.
Adrien couldn't understand what Alya and Nino had seen. They had been through plenty akuma attacks. Alya was normally in the action and recording every second. Whatever had her trembling must be big.
"I'm going to look for her, you guys should head back to the fire pit and see if Mari went back for her things." Adrien instructed and he took off into the parking lot towards the smell.
Once alone he called Plagg and transformed into his alter ego. His normal feeling of overconfidence did not come with the transformation as it usually did.
Marinette had run to the far side of the parking lot letting tears stream down her face. Images of Chloe looking smug on Adrien's arm kept flashing in her mind. Marinette reached the last car and collapsed on her hands and knees leaning against the side. Tikki flew out from Marinette's small purse and hugged Marinette's cheek. Marinette pulled away and looked at Tikki with a defeated face. "What do I do now, Tikki? I knew this was going to happen all along." She sobbed.
"Don't lose hope Marinette. He will realize it. He just needs time." Tikki said softly. "What if you go back and…" Tikki paused trying to figure out what she could say to help her hero.
Tikki's pause only made Marinette despair further. Even her kwami knew there was nothing else she could do. "Chloe. Of all the people, it had to be her." Marinette spat feeling a fire burn in her chest.
"Careful Marinette. It isn't Chloe's fault or Adrien's. Just think of…" Tikki was cut off by a dark expression on her partner's face. "Marinette?"
Marinette reached for her earrings and slowly pulled them off causing her small companion to disappear inside them. "It is Chloe's fault, you don't understand Tikki. I need to be alone right now. I'm sorry." As soon as Marinette tucked the earrings into her purse, she felt the loneliness and anger wash over her.
In a watchtower across the town, Hawkmoth emerged. A strong negative emotion needed his guidance.
-Present- "Hawkmoth!" Marinette woke in a panic flinging a sleeping Alya, who had been nestled next to her, onto the floor. Marinette breathed heavily taking in her surroundings. She was on the couch in her best friend's apartment. Her best friend who was currently rubbing her back looking up at her from the floor.
"Marinette, are you okay? It's been a while since you've thrown me off of something." Alya asked returning to the edge of the couch.
"I'm sorry. I must have drank too much last night. I felt like I was right back there…" Marinette trailed off. "Do you want to talk about it? Alya asked already knowing the answer. Marinette shook her head. Alya hugged her friend and then grabbed her arms. "Well I know what you do need, girl. Food." And in a quick motion, Alya pulled Marinette off the couch and into the kitchen.
The two girls attempted to make breakfast but were eventually shooed away by Nino that awoke to the smell of burning eggs and the sound of giggling. After they finished eating 'Nino's gourmet breakfast' Marinette looked at the clock. It was just past 8:00 and she had to be downtown for an executive meeting by 9:30. She wouldn't have time to go home and change and make it there in time. "Alyaaaa" Marinette said sweetly. "What do you need girl?" Alya laughed already knowing there was somewhere Marinette just remembered she needed to be. Somethings never change.
Marinette was graciously allowed to use their shower and go through Alya's packed closet. After a lot of digging, Marinette came across a black form-fitting dress. She had worn during her own internship that had got left behind at Alya's during a party, years ago. It was going to be a tight fit but it was the most professional thing she could find. Walking into the living room she was met with a giggle from Alya. "Oh girl. Who is this meeting with, a nightclub owner?"
Nino turned up his headphones and ducked his head into the book he was reading, not wanting to hear this conversation.
"Is it that bad?!" Marinette whined walking to the mirror in the hall. She started assessing. Her shoulders were slightly exposed, down to her neckline that fell just where her cleavage started. The dress definitely acted as a push-up giving her a busty appearance. She then turned to the side and realized her butt was perfectly cupped and rounded, making it glaringly obvious to anyone who would see her from behind or the side. Nothing was left to the imagination, every curve was on display. How did she confidently swing around in spandex all those years ago?
"I am just messing with you Mari. You look hot. I'd tell you if it was more trashy than classy" Alya winked. "Ooh let me fix your hair!" And then Marinette was pulled away from the mirror and back into the bathroom.
With 20 minutes to spare Marinette was in a taxi and headed to her office. Luckily at the last moment, Alya had pulled out a petite cropped blazer to help hide her figure. She tugged it closed attempting to hid her cleavage. Too bad it didnt button.
Marinette gave up messing with her outfit and starred out the window as the taxi drove past a quiet park. A couple walking hand in hand down the sidewalk stopped to sit on a bench. Smiles lit their faces. A shiver traveled down her spine.
-Past-
A black moth carefully flew into Marinette's ribbon as she sat on the ground clutching her burning chest. Marinette heard a deep voice fill her head. "Doesn't it hurt to have your heart ripped in half? Don't you feel a void swallowing you up inside?"
"Yes. It hurts."
"You are now Trou Noir. That feeling you have, I want you to spread it to those that deserve it. Take what they love and make it disappear!"
"Yes, Hawkmoth."
"Once you have spread your darkness, you will bring me Chat Noir and Lady Bug's Miraculous!"
Marinette was silent at this command and let the black transformation encompass her body. Her form slowly rose off the ground hovering above the cars. Her skin was completely black with a glow of a starry galaxy moving in her body. It was almost like staring into the milky way. Her now black silky hair extended itself, flying wildly around her head. Her eyes were glowing orange and wide open. A dead expression on her face.
She took the ribbon from her hair and tied it around her neck. She wouldn't let anyone stop her from her goal. Ending Chloe. And then any love that remained in this world.
Her hair stretched out, knocking over signs, flipping cars, grabbing anything in her way and tossing them aside. Vehicles started to catch fire around her. She hovered slowly towards the fountains where groups were gathered taking pictures for Alya's Grad memoirs.
Marinette curled her fists at the sight of couples posing together on the fountain's ledge. They held each other tightly, looking affectionately into their eyes. A sickening display.
A strand of her hair flicked a small black mass in their direction. It started small catching their attention. As they got closer inspecting it, the black mass grew and began drawing them in. The screams picked up as groups of people couldn't fight the pull of the black hole slowly swallowing them in. Then went the fountain and everything surrounding it. Trou Noir smiled and continued hovering towards the next group of couples. She didn't notice the girl hiding herself in the bushes below, quivering behind her camera.
Trou Noir sent more and more black holes in every direction until she reached the fields where a football match was taking place. There sat Chloe and Sabrina on a towel. Everyone that was playing the game had frozen in their spots. Some began pointing to the floating starry figure that loomed above. When Chloe finally turned and made eye contact with the her, Trou Noir let out a high pitched scream and flew into Chloe's direction. Black sparkly hands pinned down the screaming blonde. A hair strand hovered next to Chloe's face. A small mass began to materialize. Sabrina screamed and was knocked away by a mass of black hair.
"Do you want to know what a black hole in your chest feels like, Chloe?" Trou Noir whispered. Chloe's eyes widened as she realized who was pinning her down.
"Dupain-Cheng, I mean Ma-Marinette, please. I don't know what I did!" She pleaded as her eyes were filling with tears. The strand holding the tiny black hole moved closer to her body.
"Please don't, I'm sorry for whatever it is! Please!"
A whack from a steel baton sent Trou Noir flying into the grass. The mass of black hair flared wildly around the figure cradling it while throwing more black masses in every direction.
"It's Marinette! Chat, it's Marinette! She is after me!" Chloe gasped pointing to the figure that was slowing rising off the ground.
"No." Chat whispered. It can't be.
The small glowing figure turned to face Chat. The bright orange eyes glowered yellow in rage. He was responsible for this. He did this to her."You're in my way Chatton" Trou Noir growled. Chat was taken aback by this remark and didn't see the black hair wrapping around his ankles throwing him into the air. Chat extended his baton wrapping it into the same strand, using it to thrust his weight back towards the ground. Trou Noir shrieked. Chat landed himself in-front of Marinette and held out his baton to her throat.
"Marinette! Listen to me! This isn't you, I know you! You are stronger than this!" Chat yelled moving closer and grabbing her arms. His baton dropped to the ground. Hair strands whipped at Chat's back making him cry out. Chat painfully maintained his hold. "Look around you Mari! Do you really want to hurt all of these people? Snap out of it! The Marinette I know is a good person!" And in a swift motion, Chat pulled the black glowing figure into his chest as hard as he could. He leaned his head down on hers. Hair wrapped around his throat and chest causing him to gasp for air. "Please Mari, don't... do this.. I am s-so sorry.." he choked keeping his hold of the petite girl. A burning white light blinded Trou Noir causing her to pull away from Chat's embrace and grab her head.
" Trou Noir! Finish what your started! Don't let Chat Noir's Miraculous go!" Hawkmoth commanded. Trou Noir shook her head and the darkness regained control. She wrapped her hair back around Chat Noir's neck.
"I am Trou Noir. Nice to meet you, Chat Noir. Ladybug is gone. Marinette is gone, and soon you will be too."
Chat struggled to stay conscious as the hair wrapped tighter. Ladybug was gone? What did she mean? "Mari please..." His vision slowly blurred and his head became light. Chat's green eyes rolled back into his head and his limp body slide onto the ground. "Yes! Take his ring now! You have it in your grasp!" Hawkmoth bellowed.
Trou Noir squatted down and gently pulled the black ring from the unconscious clawed hand. Sliding it down, Chat began to de-transform. Something in Trou Noir screamed making her hesitate. She didn't notice the green shield beginning to materialize in front of her, knocking her back. She clung to the ring pulling it with her as she flew across the field not seeing who lay on the other side of the shield.
"Carapace! Get him to safety! I'll hold her back!" Rena Rouge yelled running in from the parking lot. She charged in the direction of her best friend, with tears in her eyes. "Maarriiineette!"
Trou Noir pulled herself up, clutching the ring to her chest. What had she just done? Did she really just take Chat's ring, f-for Hawkmoth? The blinding white light came again. "Don't do it. Fight it, Marinette." Trou Noir screeched clinging to her temples. Rena slowed her charge sensing something was wrong.
"Bring it to me Trou Noir. The ring! Hurry!" Hawkmoth called.
"Where?" Trou Noir whimpered. The combatting voices were making her break down.
"...The Agreste Mansion." Hawkmoth said carefully. "Bring it there."
Trou Noir's eyes widened. Adrien? No, impossible. It was Gabriel. Gabriel Agreste. Adrien's distant and cold father. Trou Noir's eyes went white. Her hair that had been wildly whipping around her went limp. A devious smile stretched across her face.
"I'm coming for you Hawkmoth' she called.