Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, Hetalia, or Star Wars: The Original Trilogy. All rights go to their creators.
I saw a Youtube commentary video of Miraculous (for way back in season 2) that said the "Gabriel was Hawkmoth" thing was straight out of Star Wars and I'm upset I didn't catch that when I was watching the show.
Chapter 10: Static
Arthur had collapsed onto his bed from exhaustion at the end of the night. His clone was going to tell him something, but he really didn't have time to keep him around before Francis would see them both. Luckily someone had provided a distraction downstairs in the form of someone getting too inebriated and knocking over the ice sculpture of his mother. Francis had to go take care of that, and it gave him time to change out of his Cat Noir attire and get rid of the clone. If Francis asked any questions about why Cat Noir was there, he could just say he had accidentally gone to the wrong house. He was able to get rid of Kiku's clone without anyone noticing and the night went on smoothly.
Arthur went to school over the next week. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He and Kiku still weren't any closer to finding out who Hawkmoth was. Arthur went to fencing practice, except he actually won against Yuet Lian while sparring. Nothing could have prepared him for what he would wake up to.
Arthur first felt something near his finger, where his ring was. On instinct he opened his eyes, and balled his hands into fists. He met cobalt blue eyes and punched Francis right in his nose. Francis stumbled back and Arthur jumped out of bed, holding up his fists. He stood prepared for a fight.
"What the bloody hell are you doing, Francis?"
"Ack! How did you–?" Francis held his nose before standing up straight and tilting his head back, "That ring is the Chat Miraculous, non?"
"Are you insane? Of course, it's not. You snuck into my room to ask me that?" Arthur said, eyes narrowed. The ring camouflages itself when there isn't an akuma attack.
Francis sighs before shaking his head, "This was foolish. I'm done pretending. I already know you're Chat Noir." Arthur's eyes meet Francis's cobalt blues.
"That's not–"
"There is no use denying it Arthur."
Arthur purses his lips. Silence settles between them for a moment.
"I'm not going to stop being Cat Noir no matter how dangerous you think it is. I don't know how you figured it out, but there's no turning back now."
Francis's expression was unreadable. Which was rare as Arthur knows the man to be quite emotional and expressive.
"I want to show you something," Francis said, as he walked towards the door of Arthur's room.
"There was a better way you could have handled that! It's the middle of the night! I thought you were a burglar." Arthur frowned but followed him anyway.
Francis didn't say anything else.
"Gods, you're acting stranger than usual." Arthur didn't like Francis's body language, this wasn't normal. Especially after he found out Arthur's secret identity.
Francis led Arthur down the steps and down a particular hallway to a black wooden door, a door Arthur was not familiar with. Arthur felt a slight sense of unease wash over him as they settled into silence. Francis opened the door, the lights were already on, from what Arthur could see as Francis began his descent down some stairs.
It dawned on him suddenly that Francis could be Hawkmoth. Fear gripped him, froze his blood cold and he stopped at the top of the white marble steps. T-this basement dwelling could be some kind of evil lair.
He had the urge to go run to Kiku's home, but knew he'd be leading Francis right to him if he did that. And he'd left his phone upstairs in his room, so he couldn't call him. Arthur steeled his nerves and followed Francis down the steps.
Arthur's bare feet were cold on the marble floor, but he ignored it upon reaching the last step and seeing Ludwig standing there. "You confirmed that he has the Cat Miraculous?" Ludwig asked Francis.
Arthur looked around and took in the beautiful butterfly sanctuary. A white butterfly flew past him, the greenery looked well kept, some of the butterflies were perched on a few white lilies. In the middle of the sanctuary was a coffin. Something pulled him toward the coffin, he walked over, his heartbeat quickened in his chest with each step as he neared the glass.
When he saw his mother's face, he couldn't help the scream that tore through his throat. He stumbled back and onto the floor. His chest felt tight. He sucked in a few breaths, but it felt as though it wasn't enough to sustain him.
What? W-what? I thought— She's supposed to be missing. B-but she's here, she's dead, how long has she been here? H-how did this happen?
Arthur stood back up on unsteady legs. He turned his gaze back toward Francis. "W-what did you do to her?" His voice, brittle.
Francis avoided his gaze as Arthur struggled to get enough air and understand what was going on right now. Arthur blew out shaky breaths.
"Three years ago, your mother died in a plane crash on her way back from visiting your cousin Peter." Ludwig said, expression stoic. "I arranged her placement in this coffin secretly."
Fresh hot tears ran down his cheeks, he pressed his fists to his head to stop the pounding there. Ludwig just told him what happened, but it still didn't make any sense. Arthur squeezed his eyes tight.
No. No. No. Three years…
"You knew! You knew and you didn't tell me?" Arthur was yelling at Francis, his voice in that state of hoarseness from crying. He opened his eyes again; Francis wouldn't look at him. Arthur made his way across the room and over toward Francis. An emotion more familiar to him, anger, swept over him. He latched onto it.
Francis pressed his lips together. "Look at me you coward! Look at me!" Arthur clawed at his shirt before Ludwig pulled him away.
"I just told him about it. I decided to hide it from you for your own good until I could get the miracul–." Smack. Arthur had reared back and slapped Ludwig across his cheek.
Ludwig tried to explain more, but Arthur didn't want to listen to him. He didn't want to hear what he had to say. He wanted to see something real, not cold and calculated. This was his mother, Francis's wife, didn't Francis care at all?
Arthur was shaking with rage; Ludwig had a red mark on his cheek from where Arthur had slapped him.
"Don't you dare say you thought you knew what was good for me! I questioned what kind of horrible son I must have been for my own mother to just up and leave me without ever coming back. For three years I had to watch Francis further spiral into depression from so much uncertainty! You cared for him and took over his affairs but who was going to care about me?"
"Arthur, that is not true! You did not have to take on this burden alone." Francis spoke up then.
"If you weren't going to be strong. I was." Arthur looked at Francis with the most hateful glare he could muster. Francis avoided his gaze again.
"I have found a way to bring her back to life, to end your pain. I just need your miraculous and Ladybug's. I've been doing this for you and for Francis. Please understand I never meant any harm." Ludwig pleaded with him. Arthur turned his gaze to Ludwig, irate, the urge to smack him again rising within him.
"And I should just trust you? You're Hawkmoth." He spat.
"If you do not trust me, get the Ladybug Miraculous, and you can watch me do it yourself. I will make one wish for her to come back to life and that is all."
"I'm going to think about it." Arthur pushed past them and walked back upstairs before slamming the door shut.
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Arthur felt like he was spiraling once his anger had simmered back down and the full reality of what was going on crashed down on him like a heavy stone.
Ludwig was his arch nemesis and manipulated the citizens of Paris on a daily basis to try to obtain the Ladybug and Chat Miraculous in order to bring his mother back to life.
He didn't feel safe here.
Arthur ran upstairs to slip on an old pair of clothes and shoes. He grabbed his bookbag and stuffed it with his Cat Noir attire, wand and baton before using his makeshift blanket rope to climb out the window.
He went to Gilbert's house.
Arthur knocked on the door, he knew it was late, but he just needed to be somewhere he felt safe.
A barrel-chested blonde-haired man with cold blue eyes and a hard stare opened the door. His hair reached past his shoulders. It was Gilbert's father.
"I-I know it's late, but I can't really stay at home right now. Could I stay here just for the rest of the night?" It was quite cold and Arthur didn't have a jumper. He crossed his arms as a shiver went down his spine.
The man's eyes roamed over him silently before he sighed. "I wouldn't want you to catch a cold, come in." He said as he stepped aside.
Arthur shuffled inside, his eyes welling up with tears. "What kind of trouble are you having at home?" M. Beilschmidt furrowed his eyebrows as he shut the door behind him.
Arthur bit his lip, unsure of how to phrase what was going on. "M-my stepfather and I got into an argument about h-how late I stay out. H-he uh-said he'd pull me out of school and homeschool me." Arthur sniffled.
M. Beilschmidt frowned, "I'm sure your stepfather is worried as to your whereabouts. I will give him a call in the morning. For now, get some rest." He motions to the couch just as some thumps sounded from the steps.
"Vader, who was that at the–? Arthur?" Gilbert says his ruby red eyes land on Arthur.
"Arthur is staying over for tonight. Go get him a blanket from the closet." M. Beilschmidt says and Gilbert nods before he goes to get a blanket.
Arthur wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.
Gilbert returns and hands Arthur the blanket, "What happened?"
"Gilbert, it's late. You can ask Arthur all about it tomorrow morning. The bathroom is the third door on the right." M. Beilschmidt ushered Gilbert back upstairs, he reluctantly went, grumbling all the way back up to his room.
Arthur set the blanket down on the couch and went to the bathroom. He gripped the sink as he let out a sob, after all this time agonizing, he finally knew. His mother was dead and had been for three years. Ludwig and Francis had kept it from him. A sense of relief, as though something tight had burst, caused more tears to flow from his eyes.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, he wiped his eyes, and blew his nose, fatigue weighing heavy on him. Then he laid down on the couch, head resting against a throw pillow and blanket pulled over him and went to sleep.
Arthur told Gilbert what was going on in the music room the next day at school. Antonio had stopped by but left upon seeing they were in there, and Arthur had locked the door. Gilbert loaned him an extra pair of his clothes. The giant yellow chick on his shirt matched his hair, Gilbert pointed out.
"So you found out that Francis and Ludwig are Paon and Hawkmoth?" Gilbert asked.
Arthur nodded.
"That sounds like something out of a movie I watched!"
"Star Wars. You're thinking of Star Wars." Arthur said, exasperated.
Gilbert pursed his lips, tapping his chin, "Hmm yeah, you're probably right…Well what are y-y-Cat Noir going to do about it?"
Arthur clenched his fists in his lap, "Do you think it's true?"
"What, bringing your mom back to life with the miraculouses? I mean that's such a specific thing, why would he lie about that? You'd think he'd want something broad like power or wealth."
Arthur looked down. "I suppose it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that the miraculouses have the power to do such a thing."
"But Cat Noir doesn't have to work with Hawkmoth if he wants to try it for himself. He just needs to ask Ladybug for his." Gilbert says with a smirk.
"You think it's a good idea for Cat Noir to use his miraculous and Ladybug's to bring h-h- my mother back?"
"Yeah, of course. I mean Ladybug will understand where he's coming from."
"You're brilliant Gilbert!" I can have my cake and eat it too! Arthur hugs Gilbert tightly.
Gilbert laughs, "What would you do without me, Eyebrows?"
Arthur rolls his eyes.
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After school Arthur met with Kiku who was in his Ladybug attire at the Eiffel tower, dressed fully in his Cat Noir attire.
"Kuro Neko? Are you alright?" Arthur didn't look up, gaze still in his lap.
"My mum is dead, Ladybug. Has been this whole time." He felt Kiku wrap his arms around him from behind.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, chin resting on Arthur's shoulder.
"Ludwig and by association Francis are Hawkmoth and Paon."
Kiku gasped, and moved to stand beside him where he was sitting on the edge. Arthur made eye contact with him then.
"Ludwig says he wants the miraculouses to bring my mum back to life."
Kiku pursed his lips as he sat down as well.
"But I'm not going to give them to him. I have a better idea. Since we know who they are, we can capture them, and take their miraculouses so they can't hurt anyone else. Then I could use ours to bring my mother back," Arthur smiles at Kiku, but Kiku's expression still seems perturbed.
"I agree with your idea for capturing our arch nemesis, but I can't allow you to use our miraculouses to bring your mother back to life."
Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, "What? Why not? It's not Hawkmoth using it, it would be me, you know my intentions are good."
Kiku found his gloved hand and sandwiched it in between his own. He looked into his eyes.
"You can't mess with the laws of nature, Kuro Neko. Death is a part of life. There has to be balance, bringing her back to life might end someone else's life."
Arthur snatches his hand away, "You don't know that for sure!" Arthur frowned, "I thought you would understand, but I guess I was wrong."
"My duty is to Paris first, and I will not sacrifice their lives for your mother's."
Arthur felt something break inside of him, something painful, as he searched for some kind of empathy in Kiku's eyes. "How could you say that? You know how important my mother is to me!" Tears well up in his eyes.
"No. You have to separate these two things, Kuro Neko. Your duty is to Paris. Arthur's mother is gone, and he has to deal with that grief."
"I shouldn't have to suffer just to comply with your self-righteous bullshite!" Tears fall down his cheeks, anger washes over him as he clenches his fists.
"Kuro Neko, I didn't mean–" Kiku tries to reach for him, but Arthur goes to stand.
Arthur wipes his eyes with the back of his hand, "If you're not with me, you're against me." He gives Kiku a cold-hearted glare, looking right into his eyes, "And I will get what I want."
Arthur extended his baton and leapt from the tower, using it to propel him away and toward his home.
When he got back home, he changed out of his Cat Noir attire and stalked right into Francis's designing room. He threw open the doors causing Francis to look up from his current sketching at his desk.
"I want to work with you to get Ladybug's miraculous."
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Arthur called Gilbert and Alfred over late one evening on the weekend to watch Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. It had been almost three weeks since his and Ladybug's last talk on the Effel tower.
"Kiku really got you into this show, huh dude?" Alfred said.
Gilbert smirked, giving Arthur a knowing look before he said, "Of course he did."
"Ha, ha. Very funny." Arthur said.
"You said he was going to be a bit late?" Alfred asked.
Arthur nodded.
Arthur had stopped showing up for battles and used his time to think up a good plan to get Ladybug to give up his miraculous. He didn't talk to Kiku anymore at school or outside of it, their relationship strained from the conflict.
Arthur had offered Alfred and Gilbert tea and a few biscuits to add to the pizza he had purchased beforehand. Feliciano had added a few extra toppings he knew Gilbert would like.
Gilbert sipped his tea after he blew on it, taking it in both hands.
"This is Mattie's tea set, isn't it?" Alfred said, holding up the white glass cup and saucer, eyes squinting.
Arthur nodded, "It's the one he gave me for my birthday."
Alfred pouted, "You liked my gift too though, right?"
"That's actually the last of the tea you gave me. I had three bags left." That was untrue, he'd drunk it all a few months ago.
Alfred grinned and happily sipped his tea from his cup.
Gilbert rolled his eyes, "How do you know he's not just sweet talking you so you'll drink it? Aren't you a devout coffee drinker?"
"Artie wouldn't lie to me."
Gilbert snorted and sipped his tea again, "Eyebrows can be pretty persuasive when he wants to be."
This episode Bridgette has been afraid to put Felix in the field because she's scared Cat Blanc could happen again. So she calls the other three miraculous heroes instead: Queen Bee, Carapace and Rina Rouge along with a few other additions if the situation needs them for various Akuma attacks. It puts a rift between them, and Felix gives up on being Cat Noir. Arthur's ring beeped just as the episode came to a close.
"You know, I've seen it coming this whole season. I feel so bad for Felix, like being Cat Noir is the only thing he has." Alfred said.
"Oh, ja especially since he admires Ladybug so much."
"It kind of reminds me. I haven't seen Cat Noir recently. He hasn't been showing up when there's akumas." Alfred said, looking a bit disheartened.
"He hasn't?" Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows.
"No, I've just seen Ladybug. I hope they haven't had like a falling out, or that he's hurt. You haven't heard from him, have you Artie?"
Gilbert suddenly turned to look at Arthur before his eyes drooped heavily.
"No, I haven't heard from him at all." Arthur said to Alfred.
"There's something wrong…you have to tell Lady…" Gilbert passed out on the couch.
"Whoa Gil are you ok?" Alfred shook him but the boy did not stir. "Artie, something's wrong with Gil!" Alfred's face morphed into panic and he looked up at Arthur, confused at him not having the same panic-stricken expression.
"Don't worry now, love. You should be drifting off pretty soon too." Arthur placed a delicate hand on Alfred's cheek.
"Huh? Dude, you're giving me major villain vibes … right…" Alfred too passed out on the couch.
Arthur's real target was much more personal. Arthur tied up Gilbert and Alfred up just for safe measure.
Francis and Ludwig didn't know anything about the plan he'd come up with. Ludwig was keeping Ladybug distracted with an Akuma and Francis was tasked with collecting Gilbert and Alfred once they were incapacitated.
They said that he shouldn't be a part of the final battle considering how close he and Ladybug were. Their plan was simple: Capture Ladybug's close friends and threaten to harm them. Then Ladybug would have to give up his miraculous in order to free Alfred and Gilbert. But Arthur knew Ladybug was going to get past them, and they would return empty handed.
There was a knock-on Arthur's door, his cue for Francis to come in and take them. Arthur opened the door and pulled Francis inside only to punch him right in the face. Francis covered his nose, Arthur hoisted Francis up and over his shoulder, "Sacré bleu! What are you doing?"
Francis squirmed in his hold as Arthur walked over to the glass coffee table in his room. With a grunt he slammed him over the glass table causing it to shatter into pieces. Francis was knocked unconscious, and Arthur breathed heavily as he stood over Francis. He squatted down and searched his clothes until he located the Peacock Miraculous pinned underneath his suit jacket.
Arthur pinned the miraculous to his own leather jacket. Arthur used a spare shirt to tie Francis up before lifting him up and propping him up between Gilbert and Alfred. He checked briefly for blood and saw a few cuts on Francis's back, presumably from the glass.
"Transformez-moi!" He said and suddenly a fan of feathers appeared in his hand. Arthur plucked one and he went over to his closet and pulled out the old bunny with the one button eye. He pulled out the other one before discarding the bunny with a careless toss. He fused the feather and the button before making a sentimonster of Francis.
"At your service master." The Sentimonster gave him a generous bow. Arthur sent the Sentimonster downstairs and then down to the basement to the section of the house where his mother was.
"Francis? Did you collect Ladybug's closest companions?" Arthur could hear Ludwig ask the sentimonster.
"Oui, I did, Ludwig. I created a sentimonster to bring them to Notre Dame de Paris, just like you asked me to." Arthur said.
"I thought you were going to go there as well to confront Ladybug. Ladybug has just defeated the latest Akuma. " Ludwig asked.
"Oh, I am, but I wanted to go as Hawkmoth. The dramatics of it all, you know?"
"Are you sure that is a good idea, there would be no way for me to help you if you get into trouble."
"Ludwig relax, Ladybug doesn't have Cat Noir. I could easily manipulate his emotions with your miraculous. It will be, as you say, a piece of cake."
"I don't want to risk your safety."
"Ludwig, I am your boss. You have to do as I say, remember?"
Arthur could hear Ludwig sigh. Arthur could feel his lips twitch upward, as egoism started to creep in.
"I suppose I could always ask Arthur to go get you if you get into trouble."
"Merci, Ludwig. You are truly a doll."
Arthur commands the Sentimonster to return to him but feels that the Sentimonster has been halted briefly. "Ludwig, what's going on?"
Arthur's heart thumped in his chest as he was met with a seemingly long stretch of silence.
"What did you do to Francis, Arthur?"
Arthur snapped his fingers, feeling the energy dissipate, presumably erasing the Sentimonster. He created another sentimonster, this one resembling Cat Noir. He commanded it to take Francis, Gilbert and Alfred to Notre Dame de Paris and contact Ladybug.
Just as it leapt out the window, all three bundled in ropes to carry them, Ludwig busted into his room, panic on his face.
"Well, it seems I'll have to take you down myself."
"Arthur, what's going on? I thought you were working with us."
"How gullible and foolish of you really."
"Where is Francis? If you hurt him–" Ludwig seemed to be really worried now, maybe Arthur's tone made him uneased.
"There you go. It's always about your precious boss. If he's alright, if he's feeling well, who cares what the boy is doing. You never cared about me at all, do you secretly wish to be that bastard's son adopted or otherwise? Newsflash! I never wanted to be apart of this fucking family!"
"You should be grateful for what you have been given, you spoiled brat! I have been nothing but grateful for Monsieur Bonnefoy and the life he has given me. To watch you complain endlessly is maddening!"
"I knew it! I knew you always hated me!" A smile, a sense of triumph, released through a crooked grin.
Ludwig sighed, "No, I never hated you, endlessly irritated by you sure. I realized it was best not to get involved."
"Well regardless, I'm going to bring my mother back on my own!" Arthur rushed at Ludwig then, knocking them both down the stairs, they tumbled down onto the floor. Arthur's back landed smack onto polished marble floors. Arthur groaned before feeling a grip onto his arm, and the air being squished out of his lungs at being thrown onto the stairs, his chin bounced back painfully, clicking his teeth together.
He looked up to see Ludwig moving to a standing position, and Arthur scrambled up as well.
Arthur used his higher position on the steps to do a flying kick right into Ludwig's face, but Ludwig blocked him with his arms. Arthur landed at the bottom of the steps.
Arthur ducked as Ludwig was going to give him a right hook. He wasn't able to dodge Ludwig's uppercut to his jaw though. It made his brain rattle around in his skull, his eyes blurred, and he felt dizzy.
He blocked the next jab to his face, and the back of his foot hit the step. He stumbled back onto the steps and Ludwig stood over him.
"You are clearly outmatched. Let us stop this foolishness and use our combined efforts to bring your mother back." Ludwig held out his hand for Arthur to grasp.
Arthur looked up at Ludwig's hand and then into his eyes, he sighed, "I suppose it'll make both of our lives easier." Arthur grasped Ludwig's hand before pulling him close enough to knee him in the face.
Arthur hurriedly grabbed Ludwig's Butterfly Miraculous brooch.
Ludwig's nose was bleeding, he covered his nose just as Arthur scrambled up the stairs. He could hear Ludwig's thundering steps right on his heels. Arthur dug into his bag and pulled out his trusty frying pan.
Just as Ludwig reached the door Arthur swung the frying pan right over his head. Bang! Ludwig fell over and onto the ground.
Arthur breathed heavily, finally able to relax now that he didn't have to keep fighting Ludwig. He put on the butterfly brooch. Arthur tied Ludwig up with a few shirts around his ankles and wrists. Arthur grabbed his baton and hoisted him over his shoulder. Then Arthur made his way toward la Notre Dame de Paris.
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The skies were overcast, and thunder boomed, but as soon as he stepped outside the rain started. Arthur felt raindrops gather on his eyelashes.
Ladybug had the Cat Noir Sentimonster, tied up in his grappling clip, to one of the cathedral's pillars. He had sliced the ropes that bound Alfred and Gilbert together, who were still knocked out from the drugs, with his katana. He was currently crouched down untying Francis when Arthur arrived.
Ladybug turned to look at him when he planted his trainers over the ledge of the cathedral.
"Apologies for arriving so late, Ladybug. This one here caused me the most trouble." Arthur dropped Ludwig carelessly onto the floor of the balcony.
"Arthur?" Ladybug briefly looked between himself and the Sentimonster. He stood back up.
Arthur smirked, "I've come with an honest trade. The Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous for the Ladybug Miraculous."
Ladybug looked down at Ludwig before looking up at Arthur again, expression stoic. His eyebrows furrowed briefly.
Arthur walked towards Ladybug, "I've done all the hard work. You can turn them in, and I can wish my mother back to life. What do you say? Do we have a deal?" Arthur held out his hand for Ladybug to shake.
A flash of lightning lit up the sky and through it, made Ladybug's expression clearer. He was not happy.
"No." He said, a sharp finality to his statement.
"No?" Arthur was again taken aback. Sure, when he'd proposed such a plan to Ladybug before, there was the possibility that it wouldn't work. But he'd done it! He'd brought both Paon and Hawkmoth to their knees. Their miraculouses were literally in his hands.
Ladybug's features softened, "Arthur, what I said before…I-I didn't word it right." Ladybug clasped his hands together, "You don't have to deal with the grief of losing your mother alone. I-I can–"
"I don't have to deal with the grief of losing my mother at all!" Arthur clenched his fists. "Do you want me to suffer? A-are you jealous? Are you jealous that I got to spend time with my mother, and you didn't?" He took a step toward him.
"You're being irrational." Ladybug said with a frown on his face.
Arthur shook his head, "If you loved me, you wouldn't do this to me."
"Don't you understand? I'm doing this because I don't want to lose you! What if bringing her back kills you, O-or me? Or anyone else you care about?"
Arthur sighed, knowing that underneath the brave superhero facade, Kiku was scared. Scared of this prophetic notion that someone will die if the miraculouses are used to bring someone back to life. Who's to say that's going to happen? And if it does, who's to say it's someone they know, anyway?
Arthur cupped Ladybug's cheeks, on instinct the hero gripped his wrists, a precaution. His eyes were wide, while Arthur's were warm.
"Oh, Love bug, it's sweet that you're worried about me, but that's not going to happen."
"I am not risking the lives of Paris's citizens for your mother. You can't sway me!" Ladybug swung back and threw Arthur over his head. Arthur hit the ground of the balcony, a light ache in his shoulder blades from being thrown once again.
Ladybug ran over to untangle his grappling clip from around the Sentimonster. Arthur's head was pounding, but he was running on pure adrenaline now, the previous fight from Ludwig helping to spur that on. He got back up and controlled the Sentimonster to grab Ladybug's throat. Ladybug struggled as the Sentimonster stood up.
Arthur walked over to Ladybug as he reached to grab one of his earrings, "It didn't have to come to this, really."
After grabbing it he reached over to grab the other one, only to receive an elbow right to his nose. Arthur felt warm hot blood running down his lip and more throbbing pain. He clenched his fists to keep a grip on the earring, he shook his head only to get tackled onto the ground.
Ladybug grabbed the Butterfly brooch and the Peacock pin. Then he stood back up. Arthur tried to regain his bearings; he'd hit his head pretty hard on the ground this time. Ladybug pinned the Peacock Miraculous to his costume and snapped his fingers to will the Sentimonster away. And then he picked up his fallen grappling clip.
Arthur stood back up, getting out his baton, and charged at Ladybug, who at the last moment put up his shield. Ladybug pushed him back and slowed his spinning, twirling his grappling clip like a lasso.
Arthur jumped up and front flipped over him just as he threw it. He spun around, swung his baton and hit Ladybug square on the back. Ladybug fell onto his knees and Arthur hit him again until he collapsed. Arthur straddled him from behind and grabbed Ladybug's other earring.
"Arthur don't do this! Is… this really worth... all of this trouble?" Ladybug coughed.
Arthur shushed him, "Don't strain yourself darling," and stroked Ladybug's hair. "It'll be alright once I make my wish. I wanted all of this to end." Arthur said as he put in the earrings.
Arthur stood up and wrapped Ladybug in his own grappling clip; he didn't put up a fight anymore. He propped him up against a pillar.
"No more Hawkmoth; no more Paon; no more Ladybug; no more Cat Noir. No more secrets." Arthur let out a chuckle at how freeing that sounded out loud. "You'll see, you've made a fair trade."
He wasn't sure how it worked. He closed his eyes tight and said it out loud, "I wish my mother was still alive!"
Arthur felt faint and stumbled to the ground, beginning to lose consciousness. Darkness creeped in the edges of his vision, thoughts quiet, until he was unconscious.
Arthur opened his eyes to a void filled with stars. He was still wearing his grey shirt, leather jacket, trainers, and jeans. He was floating endlessly until he came upon two beings, one that was in the shape of a ladybug and the other that was in the shape of a black cat.
"Hello human. We are the beings of creation and destruction. You have decided to make a wish, correct?" They talked in unison.
"Yes! Yes! Please bring my mother, Ava Bonnefoy, back to life."
"This wish cannot be altered or repeated by anyone once it is made. Are you sure that you want to make this wish?"
"Yes, of course!"
And then, everything was engulfed in white light. The space he was in, the two beings, and himself.
And then there was nothing but darkness and an overwhelming sense of calm.
A/N: After many rewrites I think this one is the version I like best. I couldn't wait to get to this part!
Hopefully it was exciting, and sad; I tried to ramp up the action and drama.
Thank you for reading! Criticism welcome.