Ch 11:

Ladybug slipped through the skylight into her bedroom in the dead of night as she had hundreds of times before. As usual, she was met with silence, but this time she made no effort to dampen the sounds of her arrival. If her sleeping parents were awoken by the commotion and came knocking on the trap door, she would be relieved. If they came running in unannounced, full of worry, and discovered she was Ladybug, she would be grateful to see their astonished faces. However, as soon as her feet touched the floor, she knew that this wouldn't be the case. There was something ominous about this silence, as if the quiet was forced… as if the stillness of the night hid a predator: soundless, patiently crouched, awaiting his prey.

Her sense of unease grew when, upon opening the trapdoor leading to the family's living space, she noticed the faint glow coming from the direction of stairs. Unseen during her rooftop approach, the lights in the bakery were ablaze. Still several hours before her father's 4 am wake-up time, the house should be dark, her parents sound asleep in their bedroom. Without checking, she knew she wouldn't find them there.

As she approached the stairs, she felt a fury begin to burn inside her. This demon had possessed Adrien, was threatening his life (she refused to believe that he had already ended it), and now had invaded her home. She gripped her yo-yo so tightly that only its magical nature saved it from shattering in her grasp. She took a deep breath as she started down the steps, attempting to quell the rage threatening to overtake her ability to reason.

Only then did she hear it. The melodic chirp in a somewhat familiar tune. He was whistling, some distorted version of the song from the park's carousel horses, giving the shop adorned with glass and mirrors the feel of a perverse funhouse as it slowly came into view through the open door below.

Ruin stood in the middle of the shop, both hands gripping his staff that extended vertically nearly to the ceiling, as he swayed back and forth to the eerie melody. Her parents stood rigidly against the wall, the display case that usually rested there notably absent, with their hands fastened tightly behind them. Ladybug was afraid to meet their eyes… scared that she would see their fear and be overcome herself.

"Ah, Marinette! So nice of you to join us!" Ruin dropped into an exaggerated bow, almost as Chat Noir would have done in greeting, before continuing. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to miss the show."

Hearing her name, Ladybug's eyes darted to her parents. He had just revealed her identity to them. What would they think? Would they just give up all hope, knowing that their supposed savior was actually their clumsy, helpless daughter?

Sabine and Tom were standing close enough together that their awkwardly bent arms touched, granting each other strength, but Marinette was surprised that this was the only sign of fear either of them displayed. Her enormous father was standing as tall as he could, his broad frame creating a very imposing silhouette that he had angled slightly in front of Sabine in a protective manner. Sabine's tiny stature was seething with such anger that she was nearly as intimidating as her husband, the expression on her face fierce and sharp enough draw blood. Neither of them seemed at all surprised that Ruin had just addressed Ladybug by their daughter's name.

"What did you do to him?" Sabine's voice was fiery and demanding. "Where is the real Chat Noir?! You give him back!"

Tom's low growl of baritone came shortly after: "If you harm one hair on my wife or daughter, I swear to you I will tear you apart with my bare hands faster than your magic can destroy me."

Ladybug was more phased by their words than Ruin, who did not seem to react to them at all. She blinked at her parents in surprise. As Sabine continued to stare daggers at Ruin, Tom turned to his daughter and offered her a warm smile.

"It'll be OK. No matter what. I promised I'd always protect you, remember? I won't let Ladybug down!" His tone was just as unfaltering and encouraging as it had been on that day, years ago, when he promised Marinette that "Super Baker" would protect the city in Ladybug's stead if it came to it.

Ruin released a sinister laugh and shook his head. "Perhaps you don't understand the significance of your situation, Mr. Dupain. Shall I clarify it for you?"

With unbelievable speed, Ruin snatched his staff from its resting spot and spun it above him, connecting with the side of her father's head with a sickening crack before the large man had even registered what was happening. Sabine shrieked as her husband lurched sideways, landing hard on his bound shoulder, blood already flowing freely from his temple.

Ladybug screamed as she launched her yo-yo toward Ruin, attempting to entangle one of his arms, which was again churning with a dark power ensuring death to anything he touched. His right hand deflected the attack with a spin of his staff, as he waved the index finger of his left hand at her as if to scold her.

Marinette changed tactics, spinning her yo-yo in a tight circle to create a shield as she ran to position herself between Ruin and her parents.

"Come now Marinette, you know there is an easier way," Ruin chided her like a stubborn child. "Just hand over your miraculous, and I will leave your parents alone. Don't you see what your impudent resistance has already done to your poor father?"

It was true: her parents were in danger because of her. Still, Marinette vividly recalled the words of both Adrien and Tikki, warning her that Ruin would destroy indiscriminately even if she acquiesced to his demands. Furthermore, with both miraculouses, his power would only grow, hastening the doom that he promised. No, it was her responsibility to protect the miraculous at all costs.

"I will not make it easy for you! I know full well that if you obtain my miraculous, you'll use its power to destroy the whole world!" Ladybug hoped her words would serve as an explanation, an apology, to her parents for not complying with his demands in return for their safety.

Sabine chimed in from behind her in support. "My daughter will never give up! You can threaten all you want, but she will always fight for what is right!"

Teetering on the brink of consciousness, Tom was forcing himself up again, determined to rejoin his wife and daughter to stand in opposition of this beast.

Marinette's heart filled with gratitude and respect for the amazing individuals she was lucky enough to call her parents.

"You stupid humans…." Ruin's voice dropped from the patriarchal tone to a deep, hateful growl. "Your worthless world is mine to take, mine to destroy. Your entire existence is insignificant. You are nothing."

"Well then, here goes nothing!" Ladybug shouted as she attacked again. Twirling his staff like a baton, he deflected the yo-yo before it smashed into his face. Ladybug caught her weapon and quickly fired again, this time launching the yo-yo in an arc and aiming for his legs, but he caught the path of the yo-yo in his staff. With a few quick spins and a forceful yank, he pulled Ladybug by the arm holding the ensnared yo-yo, sending her face-first into the ground.

Sabine used this opportunity to race forward. Her arms still firmly tied behind her back, the best she could hope for was knocking their adversary off-balance, hopefully granting Ladybug, her brave, beautiful daughter, some slight advantage. Ruin was far too quick for her, though, and was waiting to greet her approach with an extended arm, the open palm bubbling with dark magic.

Marinette watched in horror as her courageous but weaponless mother attacked their undefeatable enemy, rushing headlong into her own death rather than stand by and wait for it patiently. Marinette wanted to warn her, to mount some sort of offense, but from her position on the ground she was useless, watching the scene play out as if in slow motion.

Dazed though he was, Tom saw what was about to happen. Understanding that his daughter would be unable to intercept the attack meant for Sabine, Tom leapt forward, knocking the petite woman out danger and colliding with the swirling black threat.

Within the span of a second, the enormous figure of her father turned entirely ashen-gray and crumbled to dust, falling into a pile on the floor.

Ruin laughed haughtily as the imposing figure decayed to nothingness. "Well, that was foolish!" he mocked, before turning his attention again to Sabine.

With the shove, Sabine had lost her balance and stumbled to her knees. She did not have to look back to know what had happened. The expression of horror on her daughter's face confirmed her fears. Tom was gone. And she knew she was next. She caught her daughter's panicked eyes, and with a resolute expression secured on her face, mouthed a single word: Fight.

Dark power rolling from his hands in waves, Ruin closed the distance between himself and the helpless Asian woman in a few steps. Placing a hand on her shoulder, her figure briefly resembled a stone statue before collapsing into dust.

"NOOOO!" Ladybug screeched as she watched the unyielding face of her mother fall away.

Ruin was still laughing as he ambled around the bakery, gently touching shelves, counters, and glassware one by one, gradually reducing the once-bright bakery into a growing pile of ash.

Ladybug felt detached, mechanical as she pushed herself to her feet and called for her lucky charm. Keeping her eyes locked on Ruin, she felt the familiar heft of the loathsome dagger land in her hands.

"It feels so good!" Ruin exclaimed, obliterating the cash register with a caress. "This, this is my purpose!" The industrial-sized stand mixer disintegrated at his fingertips. "This is the power of a GOD!" Overcome with deific power, Ruin cackled maniacally.

Then his crazed eyes locked on hers, and Ladybug felt her breath catch with dread. Adrien was right. This creature would not stop until there was nothing left.

"You poor, wretched things… your absurd 'love' makes you weak. Him leaping into certain death, you paralyzed to inaction because you can't bear the thought of harming your precious Chat, even though he's already gone! You are pathetic, just like Adrien. And now you will die, just like him." Ruin spat the words as the churning black engulfing his hands grew.

Tikki watched the scene through Marinette's eyes with apprehension. She could take control of Marinette's body, making the decision for the girl and attacking Ruin herself. While logically the plan seemed solid, the goddess faltered in her resolve. She was not certain if she could bring herself to attack the creature that had once been Plagg. What if her power destroyed him? Besides, she could not risk losing Marinette. Even if she was victorious, she could not exist with the knowledge that her actions had ended the spirited, heroic girl she had grown to love. No, if Marinette was going down, they would go down together.

Ladybug gripped the dagger with determination. "You're wrong Ruin. Love does not make me weak, it gives me strength." Her voice was steel and sure. "And Adrien is not gone, he's here, fighting with me. Because I love him, with every ounce of my soul…Even though you think you've defeated him, he is here, giving me the courage to do what I must. Rings and earrings be damned, his love… his will, his heart, is what is truly miraculous!"

With an enraged roar, he leapt at her, both arms in front of him as he dove for her face. With decidedly Chat-like reflexes, she dropped to her knees, driving the dagger upward with all her strength.

Ruin's expression of villainous fury morphed to one of shock as the dagger plunged into his chest, catching him midair. Confusion took hold of him as the surging black power faded, and he tumbled to the ground.

Without hesitation, Ladybug grabbed his right hand and tore the ring from it, throwing it to the ground and stomping it under her foot. The black butterfly flitted out of the broken ring, looking completely unassuming, as if it had been just another akuma, just one of the hundreds of victims.

Resisting the urge to tear the damned thing to pieces, Ladybug caught the akuma with a flick of her yo-yo, releasing the white butterfly back into the world.

A wave of dark energy rippled over the crumpled figure of Ruin as she ran to him. Dropping to the ground beside him, Ladybug lifted his heavy torso into her lap.

Green orbs, accented with slightly elongated pupils, fluttered open to meet her eyes.

"Chat?! Oh god Adrien is it really you?!" Tears fell in twin streams as she clung to the wounded figure.

"Marinette…" Chat smiled at her weakly, his strength rapidly failing him. "You did it, you beat him! You've saved everyone!"

The distraught girl shook her head gruffly, sending tears flying. "Not everyone, Adrien. I—" her voice hitched as she choked back a sob. "You…" her hand shook as touched his warm, wet suit where the dagger still protruded from his chest.

Reaching up to clutch her unsteady hand in his, Chat shook his head. "Don't even think it Marinette. You did what you had to do. And it's OK… more than OK, I am so, so proud of you."

She met his eyes again, her own blue pools overflowing with tears, and saw that he held no malice in them, no fear or disappointment…. Only love.

Feeling his energy fading away, he closed his eyes again. He was satisfied that the last thing he would see were those beautiful blue eyes, but truly wished that they had not been full of tears.

"I heard you, you know." He mumbled into the darkness. "When you told Ruin you loved me… I heard you. You gave me the strength I needed to hold on, to see you one last time."

As his consciousness slipped away, he didn't hear her repeat those three beautiful words, again and again, urgency mounting with each repetition… didn't hear her pleas for him to hold on.

"I needed to, to tell you… I love you too, Marinette…and I always will."

With those words, the disguise of Chat Noir fell away as his breathing slowed to a stop, leaving Marinette holding the deathly still form of Adrien Agreste.

Her hands visibly shaking, Marinette gently lowered him to the ground. Gripping the wretched dagger with both hands, she yanked it free of his chest. The crimson red bloom was more noticeable against the white shirt, and continued to grow slowly as it soaked away the last ounces of his life.

Vision obscured by tears, she stood on unstable legs.

Please please please please! Her actions were driven by one sole purpose, one last hope.

This has to work. He can't be gone. Please let this work. I can't lose him, I CAN'T! Please!

Calling for her miraculous ladybug, the grief-stricken heroine threw the dagger into the air, where it exploded into a swirling apparition of black and red. The ribbons of magic whirled through the bakery, swooshing into her parents' bedroom to restore their sleeping figures, rushing to the streets of Paris to repair the devastation caused by their battle, but Marinette wasn't looking at any of this.

Her eyes were fixed on the unmoving body of her departed love.


Author's Note: Worry not, Chapter 12 is coming soon!