"Shit!" Marinette squeaks as she looks around. How the hell did she go back in time?! When Azrael said any shadow, she thought he meant in her time.
Turning around, she runs towards the closet with the fire in it. Maybe she can put the fire out, and everyone would be fine? Would that screw up the timeline? What's she supposed to do, die as well, to preserve it? Not like she can escape now that the bitch took her Miraculous.
Grabbing a tarp from the shelf, Marinette throws it on top, trying to smother the fire into going out. Screw the timeline. She's not dying here.
"Ow!" Jumping back, she holds her hand. It's all red and blistered, burnt. "Guess that rules out. It's just a dream idea..."
She sighs when the tarp bursts into flames and catches the room on fire. "Ok, Plan B?"
Looking towards the entranceway, she can see the Orderlies behind it. "Guilt?" Running back to the door, she bangs on it.
"Let us out! Trust me, I've seen your future and you won't like it! Killing these people will drive you crazy, then you'll jump off the roof of the hospital and die! Do you hear me?" Marinette screams. The Orderlies just look at her funny, before walking away.
"Who are you? You're not a patient here..." The woman she saw in her vision says.
"Technically, no, I'm not." Looking to the room she found Azrael in, she sees Bart writing in his journal.
"Bart!" She screams, as she runs into his room, startling him.
"Who are you?!" He snaps, as he jumps up.
"No time to explain. Where's Azrael? We need him. He can save us from dying." She snaps back as she looks around the room.
"How do you know about him?" Bart asks, as he looks at her.
"Really? Do you want to die a fiery death? Cause I've seen your future, and it's not pretty." She screams, gesturing the people screaming at the door.
"They're really going to let us die, aren't they?" He asks, shocked.
"They already did in my time." Holding out her hand for the Miraculous.
He sighs and hands it to her, as Azrael appears.
"Marinette, how did you get here? I've never sent someone back in time... then again, it's been 100's of years since anyone has used me. I might be able to... and forgot." Azrael looks around the room, noticing the smoke and screams.
"Wait... you know who I am?" She asks, not expecting this.
"Yes. Are you... are you going to save everyone?" He looks at Bart, then the people.
"Everyone!" Marinette repeats, while Bart looks between the two. "Why didn't you save them last time?"
"Bart wouldn't let me. He said, if we do, they'll know I exist and take me away. So, he let everyone die." Azrael sighs and looks at Bart angrily.
"Wow, dick move Bart." She sighs as she pins the Scythe on. "Darkness Prevails!"
"I don't even know who you are!" He snaps, picking up his journal and hugging it tightly.
"Not now, I have lives to save." Walking out into the hallway. "Hey, everyone. If you want to live, come with me. Did I seriously just say that?"
They all stop and turn to look at her, then behind her. Frowning Marinette, turns around to see the bitch doctor using the Miraculous. Whereas Marinette looks cool, she looks stupid. Long white doctor's coat, with a Pandemic doctor mask on.
"Don't listen to her. She's lying. She'll kill you all!" The Doc screams, the people look confused.
"As opposed to staying here in the burning building where you will die? Yeah, that's logical." She snaps. "Don't listen to her. She's the head doctor and wants you all to die so she can get a big fat check!"
Pulling out Amanda's phone, she shows the people the picture of the check from the insurance company, all while the fire slowly spreads towards them.
"I can't die. I have kids who need me!" The woman screams as she runs over to Lady death.
"I will save you, I will. Not her. She couldn't even save the man she loves. Let him die just to save her own ass, then killed his father in cold blood!" The Doctor screams, Lady Death freezes and turns to the woman.
"You read my journal, you bitch!" Lady Death screams as she runs at The Doctor punching her in the face, knocking her mask off.
"Well, you had a habit of leaving it everywhere. So, yes I did." Smiling, she tackles Lady Death to the floor and punches her, as Lady Death kicks her off and almost into the fire.
Lady Death stands up, her hood down, turns to the woman.
"I know you... I saw you. You came many times, you watched us die. But you were a ghost. I thought you were a ghost who had died here. Coming to escort us to the afterlife. But you're not, are you? You're our saviour?" The woman looks at Marinette's face and smiles.
Lady Death smiles, as The Doctor hits her in the head with a plank of wood, knocking her down.
"Uh..." Lady Death hits the floor and winces, holding her head.
"You're all going to stay here and die. No one wants you, no one cares about you. You are all just a burden to society! So stay here and burn like the cockroaches you are!" The Doctor screams, as she laughs at their terrified faces.
"No!" Bart steps out of his room, looking angry. "I had a good life before you. I was loved, and respected. You took that all away from me, for greed. You ruined my life, and I'm done letting you ruin theirs."
Bart charges at The Doctor and tackles her into the flames, punching her and holding her down until they were both engulfed in flames. The Doctor's screams were drowned out by Bart's laughter.
"Bart... thank you." Getting up, Lady death winces and touches her head, coming away wet and red. "Okay, whoever wants to stay and die, be my guest. I'm leaving."
Waving her Scythe, Lady Death opens a shadow to the other side of the locked door, and gestures to it. The woman picks up Bart's journal and steps through with it. The others all look at each other, the fire, then all rush through after her.
"I'm sorry Bart." Holding out her hand, the Scythe on The Doctor flies into her hand. Sighing, Lady Death steps through and appears on the other side of the locked door. Much to the surprise of the Orderlies.
"Someone call the fire department. 2 people are dead." Lady Death sighs and opens a new portal home.
"Wait, thank you. How can I repay you?" The woman asks, as she grabs Lady Death's hand.
"Easy, tell the truth about who killed the baby and testify against The Doctor." Lady Death says, as she looks behind them.
"But, she's dead." The woman says, confused.
"Technically, it's time travel confusion. Just tell the truth!" Lady Death pulls free and steps through the shadow into The Doctor's office. Of course, she's standing there angry.
"What did you do! Those people were supposed to die, die so I could get enough money to save the hospital. Now we'll have to close." The Doctor snaps as she stalks towards Lady Death.
Lady Death narrows her eyes, and punches The Doctor as hard as she can in the face. Sending her flying back into the file cabinet, leaving a large dent.
"It's going to close anyway, because you'll be in jail. For attempted murder and fraud, also abuse and neglect. I'm sure they'll find tons of reasons to charge you." Lady Death smiles as she turns back into Marinette.
Just then the door bursts open, and in stalks Amanda with a bunch of cops.
"That's her there." Amanda yells.
"She attacked me! Arrest her!" The Doctor stands up and points to Marinette, who freezes.
"You're under arrest, Doctor." The lead cop says, she recognised him as the man who led the investigation on Adrien and Gabriel.
"Me? Wait, what? What did I do?" She asks, shocked as they handcuff her.
"Attempted murder, fraud, neglect, abuse. Just to name a few. The victims of the wing fire just came forward and told the truth about you. How you ignored them, abuse them, starved them. Also, your Orderlies confessed to starting the fire under your orders. What kind of Doctor are you?" The cop snaps, as she they drag her away kicking and screaming.
"Thank you for the help, Ms. Dupain-Cheng." The cop winks at her as he follows the others out.
"What the hell happened? One minute they were all dead, the next they were standing in the lobby looking confused and scared. How did you save them?" Amanda asks, practically jumping up and down.
"I...-" Marinette moans and holds her head. The room suddenly spinning out of control. The next thing Marinette knows is only darkness.
'Mari, Mari my love. I'm so proud of you. You saved all those people. You are truly my hero.' Adrien helps her up.
'Adrien...' Marinette sobs, as she clings to him. 'I miss you so much it hurts. I can hardly breathe.'
'I know, I know, my love. I'm so sorry. But it's time you moved on. You've mourned enough. This hospital is prove that you are ruining your life. Please, move on. Go to University, get a life, please. For me!' Adrien whispers as he holds her.
'I don't know how... you're everywhere.' Marinette sobs into his chest.
'Maybe it's time for a change of scenery?' Adrien says, as he looks down at her.
'Move out of Paris?' She looks up at him.
'It would be good for your mental health. Not seeing me everywhere, all our memories. I love you, and I need you to do this for me.' Leaning down, he kisses her.
Kissing him, Marinette sobs as she nods.
A steady and slow beep is the first thing to penetrate Marinette's cloudy mind. Slowly opening her eyes, she looks around. She's in a hospital bed, in a white room. Her head is killing her. Why does her head hurt?
"Marinette, you're awake!" A red blur flies into her face and hugs it.
"... Tikki?" Marinette asks, confused, not being able to see the blur.
"Where am I?" She asks, as she touches her head.
"The hospital, you almost died in The Doctor's office. You had a severe head trauma. When the paramedics got there you'd lost so much blood. They had to restart your heart twice!" Tikki squeaks as she hugs her face, crying.
"I died?" Blinking, she thinks back on her conversation with Adrien. Was that... real?
"Twice." Says a second voice.
Looking over, she sees Chloe smiling, but tired. "I heard they rushed you here, so I brought the Kwamis to see you. Azrael has been worried to death about you."
"Azrael, he's here?" Marinette asks, and Chloe nods and points to the hallway.
"He's with Amanda. They've seemed to have become the best of friends. Maybe you should leave him with her?" Chloe asks, as she pets Nooru. Apparently, Amanda's not the only one to have made a new friend.
"I'll just keep Plagg and Tikki then." Marinette winces and holds her head.
"Amanda told us everything. What you did is incredible." Chloe says in awe, as she sits next to her.
"I guess so. I only wanted to find out if I was going crazy or not. And the patients? That was an accident, but once I was there. What was I to do, let them all die?" She shrugs and hugs Tikki and Plagg.
"Ever the hero, even without your Miraculous. You truly are Ladybug in every sense of the word." Chloe smiles and hands her the earrings and ring.
"Thanks, but I don't feel like a hero. I could save everyone but the one person who mattered the most." Marinette sighs and closes her eyes, brushing away the tears.
"I'm no hero. I'm a coward." Sniffing, she rubs her eyes.
"Heroes can be cowards, too. It's the fact that you still help despite of it. But, it's okay to not do it anymore. Retire, live your life, be happy." Chloe smiles as she walks out.
"I plan on it..." Marinette mumbles, as the darkness takes her once more.
**A Month Later**
Marinette looks around her bedroom and sighs. She's been home for 3 days, and no one has come to see her. She just spent a month in the hospital after almost dying twice, yet no one even bothers to come. Some friends.
"Adrien's right. I need to leave." Marinette sighs. Just then, her computers wake up with a breaking news story.
"Breaking News! Gabriel Agreste was Monarch!"
A picture of Monarch appears on the screen.
"A video has surfaced of Gabriel turning into Monarch, and is even more shocking.
Is the fact that Ladybug killed him!
Here is the video. Send all youngsters from the room."
A video of Gabriel turning into Monarch plays, followed by Cat's death, and Ladybug killing Monarch and then laughing.
"As you can see with your own eyes, Ladybug is a murderer, or is she? That's up to you to decide."
"Oh my god, I'm going to throw up!" Marinette grabs the garbage can and throws up her breakfast into it.
"Marinette, everyone's seen the video. They all know!" Tikki squeaks, her red face going white.
"Even worse, everyone knows I'M Ladybug! ... We need to leave now." Marinette grabs her suitcase and starts packing her clothes and other things. Before packing her bookbag with the journal and miniature size Miracle Box. (A spell Azrael taught her.)
"Go? Go where?" Tikki squeaks as she watches the Ladyblog explode with the news.
"Hong Kong, to my Uncle. We can live with him and go to school there. It's far enough away, should be safe." Marinette sighs, as she packs her back with her passport and other papers.
"Your parents aren't going to let you run away..." Tikki squeaks again.
"I turn 18 tomorrow Tikki, they no longer have a say in what I do or don't do. Also, they aren't even home. They're at that Bakers convention." Putting Tikki and Plagg in her purse, she grabs her bags and heads downstairs.
As she opens the front door, she sees Chloe standing there with Nino and Ayla.
"Uh... Hi..." She gulps and looks between the three.
Ayla starts crying and hugs Marinette, sobbing, causing her to drop her bags and hold her.
"Uh... Wha?" Marinette looks at Chloe, who's crying as well.
"We had no idea. Why didn't you tell us! You poor, poor thing! It all makes sense now! We've been horrible friends!" Ayla sobs.
"Yes, yes, you have." Marinette snaps, as she pushes Ayla away and into Nino, who holds her.
"You sided with Lila, over me. You knew the truth, yet you still betrayed me! I've been suffering since November! Did you care, once?! NO! You cared more about stupid Lila and yourselves more than me. I'm ashamed to call you two my friends." She finishes screaming, not realising how badly she wanted to say all this.
"I know, we're sorry. We hope in time you can forgive us and will come back to visit. Goodbye." Nino sighs and leads Ayla away.
"... I already forgive you. I hope to see you both soon." Marinette sighs and waves as they walk away.
"Bet that felt great." Chloe grins as her butler takes Marinette's bags.
"Train or plane?" Chloe asks, leading her to the car.
"Train, I don't like planes anymore... how did you-" Marinette starts as she climbs in.
"Know? If I was you... I'd run away too. No offense." Chloe shrugs as she sits next to her.
"Offense taken." Marinette grins as she watches her house disappear from view.
"Oh, your other friends, the holders. Said they were sorry too, they would have come. But I told them that'd be too many people. You'd feel overwhelmed." Chloe shrugs and sighs.
"Thanks. Tell them I forgive them and I'm sorry for pushing them all away. Then getting mad when they left." Marinette sniffs and wipes her eyes.
"Is it bad? Marinette asks, meaning the fall out.
"Not really. People aren't really surprised. He was always a bastard, anyway. I'm sure the stocks will take a hit. But we'll bounce back in no time. And no, no one has accused Adrien of helping or knowing. They know he'd or Cat would never. People are threatening to kill anyone who bad mouths him." Chloe smiles and opens her door as they come to the train station.
"Good. Tell everyone Ladybug is sorry." Marinette gets out and takes her bags, a train ticket.
"I will, goodbye Marinette. Live a good life, be happy, and love again." Chloe hugs her, sniffing before she gets back in the car.
"Goodbye Chloe, Goodbye Paris." Marinette turns her back on Paris and walks into the train station.