Chat wasn't there. Ladybug felt her heart sink as she stared at the front door of the school. Part of her felt relief, the other part disappointment. Although she had no wish to fight her partner, she also knew that the sooner she found him, the better. With a sigh, the superheroine began to twirl her yo-yo again, trying to decide where to look for him next. As she was about to hurl her weapon and zip away, a scream sounded from inside the school.

Ladybug froze and turned slowly. She was torn between investigating the scream and hunting down her akumatized partner. Biting her lip, she began to weigh the option in her head when another shriek pierced the air. The music that had been floating into the street was abruptly cut off, and the party went completely silent. Ladybug waited for something, anything to happen.

The something consisting of a mass of screams and yelling from inside the school. Ladybug hesitated, then ran in, pushing the slightly ajar door open. The scene that greeted her was horrifying. Students dressed to the nines were collapsed on the floor, clutching each other and looking fearful. Among the fray were piles of what looked like ash, each grey heap given a wide berth by the partygoers, except for a few individuals who knelt by the ashes, sobbing. A familiar figure stood tall on top of the DJ's station, twirling his tail with one hand. The other hand was outstretched, with black substance bubbled around his palm. A diabolical grin stretched across the boy's face.

Ladybug gasped, connecting the dots. The dark magic in Chat Noir's hand, the ashy heaps and the sobbing students…

What had he done?

Rage crashed over Ladybug, snatching away all common sense. Ladybug could only think of one thing- punishing the akuma for all the damage he had caused. With a shriek, Ladybug flung her yo-yo, striking Chat Noir in the chest. He stared at her, the smile melting off his face.

Then his grin was back, just as quickly as it had left. "Ladybug!" he called, in a tone of false delight. "How lovely of you to join us."

Pale, tear-stained faces turned to Ladybug, a faint shimmer of hope spreading across them as they gazed at the polka-dotted heroine, standing by the doorway. Ladybug tried to look brave and confident to reassure them, when in reality she'd never been more terrified.

Chat Noir began to speak again, eyes gleaming wickedly. "Would you look at that, Alya?" he called across the room. "Your wish has been granted! Ladybug decided to attend the ball after all." He stared into the depth of the crowd.

Ladybug squinted at the mass of people, trying to pick out her friend's orange dress and expecting the girl to stand up and give Chat Noir a piece of her mind. Instead, a bespectacled boy in a tuxedo stood up, cheeks shining with tears. At his feet was an ashy pile. Ladybug's breath caught in her throat.

The boy, who Ladybug barely recognized without his cap, opened his mouth to speak. "You're a villain," he choked out, wiping his eyes. "I hate you. She didn't deserve this!" Nino glared at the leather-clad akuma and shook his fist furiously.

No…. Ladybug wanted to sob as she realized exactly what Nino was talking about. With tear-filled eyes, the superheroine stared at the grey heap besides Nino's feet and began to shake. "You- you- you killed her?" she cried, shocked.

Chat Noir shrugged. "I prefer the term 'eliminated'."

Ladybug shook with fury. "What do you want?"

Chat narrowed his violet eyes. "You of all people should know that, Ladybug," he spat.

"If I knew, would I really be asking you?"

Chat spun his baton. "Well, I want your miraculous, for one thing."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Predictable as always. Tell Hawkmoth he needs to change it up a bit."

The akuma stretched. "Gladly. Anything else you want me to pass on? Or are you ready to surrender?"

"I'm not surrendering anytime soon, so don't hold your breath. And as for that message-" Ladybug stopped. What if Chat Noir had told Hawkmoth something really important… like her secret identity?

Chat watched her, absently twirling his staff. "Cat got your tongue?"

"What else have you told Hawkmoth?" she said carefully.

"What?"

"Did you tell Hawkmoth our identities?"

A shadow crossed the akuma's face. "Not ye-... I mean, I wanted you to be present when I gave him the news."

Fear gripped Ladybug and held her tight. "Chat Noir, don't do it." She hesitated, then put her hands on her hips. "You'll regret it."

"Oh, will I?" Chat flashed her a smile, then cupped his gloved hands around his mouth. "Hawkmoth!" he yelled. "I've got a gift for youuuu!"

Ladybug charged at him, yo-yo twirling rapidly. She danced around students and piles of ash, intent on stopping the boy in front of her. With a yell, Ladybug launched herself at him, arm outstretched, ready to sucker-punch him in the face.

Chat Noir thrust out his hand, and Ladybug halted suddenly, black magic rippling and bubbling mere centimetres from her face. Chat gave her a devilish smile. "Stop right there, Ladybug," he purred. "I'd ha-"

Ladybug ducked under the akuma's palm and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backwards. Chat Noir slammed into a wall, next to a group of cowering students. They tried to scramble away from him, but the winded akuma stretched out and grabbed the ankle of one unfortunate girl with his non-magic hand.

Cheers began to rise from the partygoers as they chanted Ladybug's name. Ladybug held up her hand for silence and stood triumphantly above her opponent. "You were saying?"

He glared at her. "It won't take much for me to yell out your real name right now for Hawkmoth to hear."

"He won't be able to hear you," said Ladybug, feigning confidence.

"How would you know?" snarled Chat Noir. "You were never akumatized."

"I came pretty close to it, thanks to you!"

Chat snorted. "Yeah, well, there's a big difference between coming close to it and actually being akumatized."

Ladybug rolled her shoulders. "Let's get this over with, then." She began to run at Chat Noir, but he stopped her once more.

"Don't move," he said, holding his shimmering hand above the student's head threateningly. "Or I will eliminate her."

Ladybug froze, her gaze flickering from the akuma to the cheering students. What was she supposed to do?

The girl whimpered, and Ladybug made up her mind.

Time to do some talking.

"So, Chat Noir," she said, twirling her yo-yo lazily. "What was it that you wanted again? Oh, yes, now I remember. My miraculous, right?"

The akuma curled his lip at her.

"Typically, akumas try and take my miraculous. You should know that. So how do you propose on getting it if you're stuck there, holding your hand over that poor girl?"

"I'll get the students to take it," replied Chat Noir.

"We'll never help you!" yelled Nino angrily.

Chat shrugged. "Your choice. Of course, that means this girl will meet the same fate as the blogger, Alya."

The superheroine bit her lip and tried to stay calm. She was the clever, strong, loved Ladybug of Paris, who always saved the day. Today was no exception. There was a solution.

"I have a better idea," said Ladybug. "How about a trade?"

Chat looked vaguely interested. "What kind of trade are we talking about?"

"It's quite simple," replied Ladybug, thinking on her feet. "You answer….let's say...three questions, and I give you my miraculous. You'll be able to hand it over to Hawkmoth, and he'll reward you with whatever your heart desires. A win-win situation." She did her best to smile at him.

Chat stroked his chin. "While it sounds extremely beneficial for me, I am dealing with Ladybug here. What's in it for you, and what terms and conditions haven't you mentioned? You forget that I know you. I won't be fooled so easily."

"I didn't expect you to be. You also forget that I know you, Chat Noir," answered Ladybug coolly. "As for your questions, well, there's nothing in it for me. I can't defeat you, so what's the point in trying? And besides, I'd like to know your intentions. Terms and conditions? None, except that you must answer the questions truthfully. If you evade them, I get to ask another question. Deal?"

The akuma considered, weighing the bargain. Finally, he smiled. "It's a deal, my lady."

"You've lost the privilege of giving me nicknames. Now, shake." Ladybug held out her gloved hand, heart pounding wildly.

Chat Noir nodded, and slipped his hand into hers, shaking it. "Done."

"I hold you to it. Now, first question. Why were you akumatized?"

Chat Noir shrugged. "What can I say? You hurt me, and I was upset. I tried to apologize. You wouldn't accept that I made mistakes. I suppose I was wrong in thinking that you didn't hold grudges," he added bitterly. "Hawkmoth got wind of it, and akumatized me."

Ladybug nodded. "Second question. What did Hawkmoth promise you?"

"The ability to keep you in my life. If I give him your miraculous, he will...arrange it so that you will never leave me."

"Okay. And final question." Ladybug inhaled deeply. "Where is the location of your akuma?"

The villain hesitated. "I don't know."

Ladybug was on her feet faster than anyone could blink. "You swore to answer the questions truthfully!"

Chat held up his hands. "I am answering it truthfully! I don't know where it is. I never saw it coming."

Ladybug walked closer to him, and put her face very close to his. She could feel his breath on her face, hot and panting. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course! Why would I lie?"

Ladybug stood back. "Never mind."

A slow smile crept across the akuma's face. "Your end of the deal is complete. Now you must complete mine." He held out his gloved hand. "Your earrings."

Ladybug covered her ears with her hands. "Do you love me, Chat Noir?"

He blinked. "I-I- you had your three questions. Now give me the earrings!"

Ladybug smiled sweetly at him. "You'll get them eventually. Just one little question. What have you got to lose?"

He growled. "Yes, I do."

"Really, truly love me?" she pressed.

"Yes!"

"Then why are you making me do this?" asked the superheroine. "You don't need Hawkmoth for us to be together. Just let me free you from all this, and I promise I'll stay with you forever." A hollow promise, but the akuma didn't need to know that.

"Would you?" Chat breathed, face lighting up. "Would you really?"

Ladybug nodded. A purple mask glowed around Chat face, and Ladybug knew Hawkmoth was steppin in, trying to talk him back into rage and despair.

Chat looked up, his eyes furious again. "I don't believe you. Hawkmoth is the best thing for me. Now, give me your miraculous!"

"No! I will never surrender to you!"

"Then this girl, and all of these students, will be no more. How would you like to be the cause of your friends' deaths?" Chat Noir raised his clawed hand up, and brought it down on the weeping girl's head.

Or at least, where the girl's head had been.

Fury flashed across the akuma's face as he scanned the courtyard and realized what had happened. He'd been so distracted by Ladybug that he hadn't noticed the students quietly slipping out and running for their lives. All that was left was crushed soft drink cans and the ashy piles that had once been people. He let out a roar, and leapt to his feet. "You witch!" he screamed. "Give me your earrings, or you'll be dust like your friends!"

"You could never catch me," countered Ladybug, backing away from her fuming former partner. "You would be eating my dust, not turning me into it."

"There's other things I could do, you know," he growled. "Worse things."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

Chat Noir gave her a smile, teeth flashing. "Well, your secret identity? Guess who now knows it."

Hiiiiiii, guys. It's ya girl, back again. Hope you liked it. Just to clear something up, Chat Noir is now the akumatized form of himself, except his name has not changed, and his appearance differs only slightly, in that his previously green eyes are now purple. In other words, he is being possessed by Hawkmoth. Hope that helped, and please tell me if I need to improve! Your support and advice is much appreciated!