Man I'm having way too much fun with this.

Nathalie swiftly made her way to the castle, spotting it rising out of the darkness ablaze with light pouring from knots in the stump and sighed with relief. There is was, and there was still plenty of time before the moon sank into the sky to welcome the dawn of a new day. All she had to do was wait for Adrien. But then the noises of cries for help reached her ears, along with triumphant, diabolical laughter. Nathalie dropped down and hid, pressing her back against a bramble bush and wincing a bit as the thorns dug into her skin and her wings. The cries for help persisted as two Goblins on dragonflies flew past, pushing a sentient fungus into a sack. The entrance, Nathalie saw, was filled with a line of creatures flanked by guards. Just as Nathalie wondered what they could have done to invoke the ire of Hawkmoth two of them began to kiss, only to be broken apart by the guards. An affirmed, "No kissing!" directed their way.

The love potion. Nathalie knew Adrien no longer had it, which meant someone else did and was spreading it around the kingdoms. And Hawkmoth was going to do something with them. What did that mean for Marinette, who'd been dusted before she was brought here? Logically, Nathalie knew she should wait for Adrien to arrive with the love potion before she entered but concern for her sister drove her actions.

"Nathalie?" Tikki wondered aloud, "What are you doing?"

"Tikki," Nathalie replied, "Stay here and wait for Adrien and the others. I can't let anything happen to Marinette. I'm going in,"

"No, Nathalie!" Tikki tugged at a lock of hair, "You need to wait!"

"I can't wait." Nathalie argued, "Do you see those people? They're going to be punished for being love-dusted by that damned potion! I can't even imagine what Hawkmoth will do if he finds out the same thing has happened to Marinette."

"We won't get her back any sooner if we go in there without the potion!" Tikki parried.

Nathalie pulled out of the brambles and took off.

"Nathalie wait!" Tikki shot off after her.

MLB

It was quite late in the evening, even for Goblins. It made sense that several of the posted guards he had standing near him were asleep on their feet. The day had been exhaustive. Hawkmoth merely sat there, chin in hand as he mulled over his thoughts. The prisoners had been escorted to the dungeons and locked up for their own safety. By all accounts, the love potion's effects were permanent unless someone died, or was administered the antidote. He wasn't going to kill anyone for falling in love against their will, that was the mark of a bad king. And Rose steadfastly refused to give him the antidote. Still, the audible snoring of one of his subjects as they stood right next to him was getting a little annoying.

"Shush him," Trixx elbowed Plagg.

"You shush him," Plagg argued back.

"You're closer!"

"I guess," Plagg huffed. He turned to the sleeping guard and shushed him. Unfortunately it startled the guard awake and jerked his staff into the king's sending it tipping to the side. Hawkmoth caught it without raising his head.

Righting the staff he said to the others, "So… why don't you all get some sleep, and leave me alone."

The guards dispersed at that. Meanwhile Plagg and Trixx argued over the correct pronunciation of boutonniere -whether the bou should be pronounced boot or but- and made Hawkmoth realized he was still wearing the accursed present the fairy princess had given him. With an angry sound he snatched the decoration off and threw it to the ground. Heavens above help him get through the remainder of this night. He turned his eyes to the skylight in the ceiling of the castle to look at the position of the moon. And that was when he noticed a dark spot, with an even smaller red one, growing larger and larger with every passing second. Nearly belatedly Hawkmoth realized that something was coming, and in the nick of time he grabbed his staff and held it up to deflect an attack.

With a primal scream Nathalie crashed through the skylight, sword drawn and arced downward. It resounded off Hawkmoth's staff with a clang that reverberated through both their bodies. Nathalie still had the upper hand, using her wings to keep her slightly aloft as opposed to Hawkmoth who was sitting in his throne. Tikki zipped off to the side, not wanting to get caught in whatever would ensue. The noise called back Trixx and Plagg who eyes the Sprite warily.

"What's going on?" Plagg asked her.

"Nathalie is… impatient," Tikki whispered in response.

Speaking of, Nathalie gritted her teeth at Hawkmoth and snarled, "Release my sister!"

And now he recognized her. Just what he needed another Fairy Princess causing trouble. All he wanted was the potion back. But things could never be that simple now could they?

"Oh wonderful," he snarled back, "Another princess." at least this one wasn't singing.

She drew back with her sword and swung at him again. The bout began. Thrusts, parries, ripostes, lunges, blocks. With their wings the combat extended to the air. The clangs resounded off their weapons as they fought. Hawkmoth was impressed as the slip of a Fairy woman threw her strength into her blows, as skilled as any warrior he'd ever seen. He hung on to the support for one of the many lanterns that lit the castle's interior. With one clean swipe of her sword Nathalie cut it loose, sending it to the floor below. Unbeknownst to them the tremor of the chandelier hitting the ground reverberated down in the dungeon below, causing Marinette to stir. The guards watching over her immediately tried to quiet her, lest she start singing again. It worked, and they heaved a sigh of relief. Back up above the three companions to the royals watched the fight go on, and on, and on.

"Ask if he needs help," Trixx goaded Plagg, "He'll appreciate it."

"Wait," Tikki zipped forward and covered the Goblin's mouth with her hands, "I think they're fine for right now. If they need help they'll tell us."

Plagg blinked at the Sprite slowly. Tikki immediately realized the position of her hands and pulled away quickly, thankful that her red complexion kept her from blushing easily. A glance back over at the cat-goblin showed him looking at her intently. When he caught her eyes a fanged smirk was sent at her. Tikki stubbornly turned her gaze away.

The two collided in the air and Nathalie blew a stray lock of hair out of her face. With a smirk she asked him, "Had enough?"

He scoffed, "Please, I could do this all day." they swung their weapons only to collide again, "Now, if you're here then give me the potion."

"What?" Nathalie quirked a brow, "The almighty King Hawkmoth needs a magic love potion? What could you possibly think is out of your league?"

"Point one: I love no one, which leads me into point two: I don't need it, I want to eradicate it!"

"Really? Well," Nathalie tilted her head to the side, propelling herself backwards and hacking off a loose piece of the castle, sending it in his direction, "Eradicate this!"

Hawkmoth just managed to dodge and the giant woodchip fell to the floor. They landed atop it and continued to fight. Trixx, Tikki, and Plagg cowered behind one side of it, with Trixx egging Plagg on to ask if their sovereign needed help. Though Tikki whispered not to the cat did and got yelled at in return as Hawkmoth was distracted by the heat of the battle and didn't want to be caught off guard because he was dealing with his subjects. The clangs and clashes continued to resound off the cavernous walls. Unfortunately Nathalie's sword got caught in the top of Hawkmoth's staff, and pulling it out proved rather difficult. Nathalie grunted in frustration and Hawkmoth took the opportunity to egg her.

"Well well," he smirked, "Look at you,"

Nathalie glared at him then wrenched her arms in the other direction as quickly as she could. The action dislodged the sword, only to send it flying into the air. Nathalie and Hawkmoth looked at each other awkwardly for a moment, neither knowing what the next move should be. Then Nathalie grabbed hold of the staff, used it to pull him forward close enough to deliver a kick to his chest, then using the momentum of his retuned swing to flip over, moving to the side just in time to catch her weapon by the hilt. She was a better fighter than anyone might have given her credit for, he would give her that.

"Not bad," he said, "Not bad at all."

She responded by aiming the point of it at his throat. They continued fighting, their footwork as fancy as a high class dance. They spun without getting dizzy, always ending the tiny fray with their weapons pressed against each other. And surprisingly enough, there was laughter. A teasing, triumphant breath of laughter that escaped them when they believed themselves to have the upper hand or to have countered what their opponent thought an exemplary move. And before they knew it, it was turning into real laughter as Nathalie used her wings to power jump out of the way.

"So?" Nathalie managed to get out through her chortles, pointing a flippant hand down at him like he was supposed to kiss it and grovel, "Is that all you got?"

Just to show off, Hawkmoth began twirling his weapon like a baton, using the momentum to force her into defending. All the while spouting off colloquialisms about knowing how to play his hand and the cards that had been dealt him.

"Really?" Nathalie quipped, holding her sword above her head, the moonlight glinting off the cold metal, "Well I'm ready for you."

Hawkmoth tutted, moving to the side and forcing them into circling each other, "What the winner doesn't know, the gambler understands."

Nathalie loosened her framework enough to shrug in confusion, "What does that even mean?" when he merely smirked in response she shook her head. It didn't matter, "No, you don't stand a chance!"

"You don't stand a chance," Hawkmoth agreed.

As though the taunting had put more energy into her, Nathalie slashed and hacked, his staff being the only thing that protected him from the bite of her blade. She growled fiercely at him, her frustration and exhaustion becoming more and more apparent, even though she didn't want them to. Hawkmoth couldn't resist.

"Ooh," he said, the tone mocking and dripping with faux awe. The same tone used with the sarcastic phrase "I'm so scared," when the speaker wasn't in the slightest. He forced her back and swung at her again, "You fight well, for a Fairy that is."

"Really?" Nathalie replied with mock surprise and graciousness, "Wish I would say the same for you."

"And what do you mean by that?" he snarled at her, parrying a blow in an almost distracted manner.

"I don't know," Nathalie parried a few more strikes without even looking at him, instead taking the opportunity to closely examine her nails, "I guess I was just expecting…" she forced back his hand and drew close enough to taunt him, "more?"

There came the muffled sounds of laughter as his subjects, as well as her Sprite, tried to stifle their mirth. If there was one thing he hated above all else, it was being ridiculed. Incensed he struck back at her, began trying to drive her into a corner. They went into the air once more, each of them taking shots at one another. So wrapped up they didn't notice Dowager Duusu coming in and seeing the fervor with which they fought. A fire she hadn't seen in her son in almost two decades.

With a maternal sigh of relief Duusu whispered, "Finally!"

But considering they had spent a good portion of time and energy fighting it was only natural that even adrenaline would give out. To the point where their swings were lazy, half-hearted, and not at all near their marks. Fatigue forced them to the ground, only leaving them on their feet through sheer determination not to look weak in front of the other.

They stood, locked in a combative position and panting heavily. The toll of the fight now taken out on their bodies. With shaking hands Nathalie raised her sword, its tip once again ready to pierce the dark ruler's flesh. He smirked at her.

"Go ahead," he told her, "Kill me, but you won't get your sister back if you do."

She glared at him and with even more trembling allowed the weapon's edge to drop to the ground with a soft clang. Tikki and Plagg took that opportunity to cut in and gently ask,

"Need any help?"

In simultaneous exhaustion the other pair replied, "No,"

And then it came through in the rather disturbing quiet. The sound of sweet singing, tinged with melancholy. Soft and wistful, like it was sung by someone on the outside looking in. Trixx and Plagg covered their ears with their paws, meanwhile Tikki floated upward tilting her head to the side.

"Marinette!" she exclaimed happily.

"Oh no," Hawkmoth shuddered in revulsion, "The beast has awoken!"

"Oh dear," Nathalie looked around, as if she could find the answer before asking the question, "What did she fall in love with?"

Hawkmoth scoffed and set his staff down against the giant woodchip, "Care to find out?" with a hand he gestured that she should follow him. Silently Nathalie acquiesced, though she did take note of the staff and carefully tucked her sword back against her side. Tikki and the others followed after them.

MLB

Unlike when Adrien had visited the dungeon cells were full of lovelorn creatures singing their hearts out. Reaching for their beloveds, on the brink of tears. Nathalie took all this in with a face that grew more and more pained and horrified as she saw the true uncontrollable effects of the potion on these poor creatures. Hawkmoth didn't make it any easier with his commentary,

"See what happens when love is loosed upon the world?" he asked her, "This is why I made the potion illegal, and suggested your kingdom do the same. If the Rosa Peace Fairy didn't prefer my dark hollows, I can't say you wouldn't have been under its power already."

Nathalie wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. To think that Adrien had been conned into a very similar plot. Not that it mattered, knowing Sebastian her father had already given into his demands and was in the process of gathering an army. It wasn't a threat. There weren't enough trained soldiers for anything more than a small battalion, and given that the last war between their kingdoms had been hundreds of years ago there was no chance that they would be victorious in the case of an invasion.

Trixx and Plagg stood at attention, the latter trying to quiet everyone's discordant voices so that there could be peace. But even his loudest cries couldn't be heard over the layer upon layer of voices. The sound started to pierce at an uncomfortable pitch, causing Nathalie to grab at her ears and wince. Noticing this Hawkmoth shouted for everyone to be quiet. They silenced at the forboding monarch's orders.

Clearing his throat and dusting off his hands Hawkmoth glanced at Nathalie as he grasped the handles of Marinette's cell doors, "I hope you've got a strong stomach," he warned her.

"I can only imagine," Nathalie quipped without really meaning to, rolling her eyes in an unimpressed manner. Whatever she'd fallen for, Marinette was still her sister. It couldn't be that bad… right?

Hawkmoth opened the doors to be blasted with Marinette's singing. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and looked away while Nathalie stared slackjawed. Just as quickly as he'd opened the doors they were shut. But Nathalie didn't quite get it just yet. She stared at him and lifted her hands as though to say, "What?". Pushing him to the side she opened the doors herself while he took a rather prudent step back. The doors were opened again. Standing right in front of her Nathalie could see where her sibling's adoring gaze landed. Slamming the doors shut once more she whirled on him, disbelief written all over her face.

"You?" she asked. No way, it was impossible. This had to be a joke.

Clearing his throat he replied, "Yes," as he tapped his fingers together.

"Antidote?" she parried.

"Still working on that part," he replied with a placating motion.

Nathalie rolled her eyes and withdrew her sword. Now only just remembering he'd abandoned his weapon -rather foolishly- Hawkmoth held up his hands and stepped back. Without taking her eyes off him Nathalie opened the doors to Marinette's cell, lifted the gate and then took out the rather loopy looking girl. Tikki floated back, unsure that this would go as smoothly as the other was hoping.

With a soft breathy gasp Marinette greeted her sibling as though she hadn't just seen her, "Nath! Hi!"

And then like she was fascinated her fingers began to brush against her sister's face, poking at sockets and divots and even going so far as to cover her mouth while Nathalie moved them along.

"Well, you know," Nathalie managed to get out as she continued walking them along, sword still pointed at the opposing royal, "I really-" she had to stop to blow Marinette's fingers off her mouth, "enjoyed our fight. But I think I'll be taking my sister home now."

Another gasp, this one of outrage, came from the younger girl. She pushed her sister, causing Nathalie's sword to drop and skitter. With practiced ease Hawkmoth transferred the weapon from the ground to his hand and pointed it at the interloper. With a cry of "Mothy-pie!" Marinette threw herself at him, arms encircling tightly about his waist.

"Hawkmoth," he corrected, dropping the sword with a victorious smirk. No way she would fight with her sister at risk of getting hurt. True to his thought process Nathalie merely sighed helplessly but did nothing. Turning to the younger princess he took on a softer, more encouraging, and utterly fake tone, "Now, let's go back to our cell, shall we?"

With a girlish giggle Marinette nodded, "Anything for you Mothy-wothy," she pinched his cheeks and sauntered back to her cell, ignoring his correction of "Hawkmoth,".

"Marinette!" Nathalie sounded exasperated as she grabbed the other girl by the shoulders, "What's wrong with you? Don't listen to him!"

An annoyed expression on her face Marinette pushed herself out of Nathalie's grip and flared her wings, "You are not the boss of me!" she argued, "And don't even think about stealing my Mothy!"

"Hawkmoth!" the king snarled. The doors slammed with finality as Marinette returned to the cell. Nathalie sighed, she didn't know what to do now. Marinette was stubborn when she wanted something, and it was torture to try and persuade her out of it. Add that in to the effect of the potion and there was going to be no convincing her of anything else.

"You know," Hawkmoth began lightly, "She stays here until I get the potion back. After that you can have her."

Ah yes, the infamous potion which had caused all this trouble. Her ire renewed Nathalie turned on him and wanted to scream, but she settled for forceful talking, "Potion? Forget the potion, get the antidote! Now!"

Hawkmoth scoffed, "You make it sound so easy."

"Isn't it?"

"Well then," he shrugged as if none of this concerned him, "Maybe you'd like to ask her then."

"Ask who?" Nathalie replied.

"The Rosa Peace Fairy," Hawkmoth introduced as he escorted her to the cell beneath the ground.

At the sound of her name Rose turned to see she now had visitors, "Welcome!" she greeted, "It's so nice to see some new faces around here. Are you his new beau? How romantic!"

"Wait what?" Nathalie shook her head in disbelief.

"Oh, you're not?" Rose put a hand to her mouth and giggled sweetly, "My mistake, sorry."

"Give me the antidote," Hawkmoth ordered her.

"Only if you let me talk about that fateful-"

"No!" Hawkmoth replied firmly.

"Well I guess you don't need it that badly then," Rose shrugged and turned away, crossing her arms in the process.

Nathalie looked at Hawkmoth, who shrugged and gestured for her to try. The Fairy took a deep breath, "Please Rosa-"

"Rose dear," she corrected, "Rose."

"Alright, Rose. Please, help us. I love my sister, and seeing her like this kills me. I need that antidote."

Rose turned to her and clasped her hands together under her chin, "Oh I just adore love like that!" she sighed, "Okay, I'll help."

"What?" Hawkmoth said in disbelief while Nathalie smiled and asked, "You will?"

"Mhm," Rose nodded, "I'll just need a few things first…" she started listing off items and Hawkmoth ordered the guard to get them.

They began walking away, unsure of what to do with their time now that all that was needed was to wait for the antidote to be made. Despite Rose's reassurance Nathalie was still wary.

"Hey," she thumped her arm against him, feeling the bite of his scales against her arm, "Do you think it'll really work?"

"Eh, who knows," a new voice cut in, causing Nathalie to jump. Duusu had followed them down and was smiling charmingly at the girl. Hawkmoth looked to the sky as if asking "why me?"

"Uh," Nathalie replied, all semblance of royal etiquette deserting her, "And you would be?"

Hawkmoth hunched down into his body, "My mother,"

"Step-mother, technically," Duusu said, "Though I did raise him like my own."

"I see," Nathalie nodded, "You're the Queen of the Dark Forest then?"

"Dowager," Duusu amended, "Dowager Duusu, though Duusu is just fine," she grabbed hold of Nathalie's hands and pulled the Fairy woman down to eye level, "And you must be little Nathalie. Look at you all grown up! Why I haven't seen you since the last Spring Ball all those years ago!"

"I mean, you really missed out this year," Nathalie replied with an awkward laugh.

"Mhm," Duusu nodded. Leaning in she whispered, "But honey, what happened to your hair? Did you lose your comb?"

"It's the wind from flying so fast," Nathalie replied as she stood back up, pulling out of the dowager's grip, "It happens so often I just gave up."

"Nothing wrong with getting a bit of wind in your hair," Duusu agreed, "Now, don't tell me my Gabe has been so hospitable as to drag you down to the dungeons without offering any refreshments."

That caused Nathalie to snort, putting a fist in front of her mouth to try and stifle her mirth, "I'm sorry," her voice warbled with her unshed laughter, "Gabe?"

"Gabriel," Duusu waved a hand at Hawkmoth, "That's his name. But in a place like this I'm sure you can understand why he doesn't use it much."

"Most definitely," Nathalie agreed.

"Anywho…" Duusu waved it off, "It's so drafty down here, don't you think? Why don't you two come upstairs? I had snacks prepared while you wait."

"I'd love to," Nathalie replied, "But I don't know… What do you think, Gabriel?"

There was a strangled sound of frustration that echoed out from deep within his chest. Closing his eyes Hawkmoth breathed in through his nose. It was almost over, the antidote would be ready soon. He could play the cordial host for that long.

"Why not?" he parried. After all, it had only been five minutes they'd been down here. What was the worst that could happen?

Hawkmoth had apparently forgotten just who his mother was and what she was like.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you thought. Until next time, happy holidays everyone!