GUYS! I am SO SORRY for how long it has been since my last update (unfortunately this seems to happen quite often)!
I honestly haven't been inspired as of late, but now I am going to push myself to at least finish this story. I've got between 10 and 15 chapters left within Miraculous: Tales (unless the writing bug just lets loose, but that's the planned number).
I'm hoping to update 2-3 times a month. I have a NEW full time job and it takes priority, so I'll probably use writing as a brain break that gets me watching Miraculous again for inspiration.
Enjoy Chapter 25: Call in the Calvary!
"About time you two showed up!" Alix stood as Nathaniel and Chloe entered the gallery. She quirked an eyebrow at their entwined hands. "How long has this been going on?"
The teens looked at each other, smiling. "We're seeing where it goes." Nathaniel squeezed her hand.
Alix rolled her eyes, secretly thrilled that the two of them had moved past their differences and their pasts. "So, what's the big emergency, Nath? Why did you have us race over here?" She skated around the bench where the blonde and redhead sat.
"He wouldn't tell me on the way over here."
"I wanted to tell both of you at the same time." The boy dropped his head into his hands. He explained the events of the afternoon, from Marinette giving him 'Ladybug's' diary to him storming away from Marc, humiliated.
Chloe shook her head. "I told Marinette this was a bad idea." She muttered. "Nathaniel, Marinette was just trying to help Marc. They thought the stories he wrote would work well with your sketches in a comic book. She thought that if you didn't know who wrote them, you wouldn't be biased by the author." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Marc's just really shy."
Nathaniel met her gaze. "I guess I can understand that."
Alix skated backwards, snapping her gum. "We all know that Marinette's plans don't always turn out the way they're supposed to." The group shared a laugh. They stopped as they heard a crash from the next gallery over.
"Nathaniel?! Where are you? This is an emergenc- Whaa!" Ladybug flipped head over heels as she and Chat Noir tumbled to the ground. The teens leapt up from their bench. "This is getting old…" She muttered.
"Ladybug? Chat Noir? What's going on?" Nathaniel and Alix rushed to help them up while Chloe hung back. Ladybug carefully opened her yo-yo to its news app. Chat cowered behind her, cloaked in a blanket.
"It has been confirmed: thousands of tons of garbage, all a part of Mayor Bourgeois' controversial Space Dumpster program, have been released from space. Unless the mayor cancels the process, Paris will soon be buried under mountains of trash! However, the supervillain behind this chaos has given an ultimatum."
The camera cut from Nadja reporting in the studio to a live feed of Reverser at the Eiffel Tower, the mayor cackling to himself in the background.
"Ladybug! Chat Noir! I command you to deliver Nathaniel and Marinette to me, RIGHT NOW! I also demand that you hand over your Miraculous."
Chloe seethed as Ladybug put away her yo-yo. "I don't care what that villain did to Daddy! You're NOT giving him Nath!" She tightened her grip on his hand.
The spotted heroine sighed. "We have to try and talk to Reverser. I hate to put you in danger, but we need you, Nathaniel." She absent-mindedly stroked Chat Noir's head as he trembled by her side. Alix gestured to the poor boy.
"What's wrong with him? The cat's usually cooler than this…"
"Kitty here was hit by one of Reverser's airplanes. He reversed Chat Noir's bravery and turned me into a clutz- whaa!" Even standing still, Ladybug tripped over herself. That in turn caused Chat to yelp, leaping into the air and landing on the girl. The three remaining teens attempted to detangle the heroes.
"Looks like you guys could use some help." Alix crossed her arms. "I'm coming with."
"Me too!" Chloe chimed.
Ladybug raised her hand to stop them. "No. I don't want to put any more people in danger than I have to. We also don't have time to call in the rest of the Miraculous Squad to help protect you." She glanced meaningfully at Chloe, hoping she would understand what she was trying to say. Chat hesitantly tapped her shoulder.
"Would it be okay if I stayed here, Bugaboo? I'd at least be out of the way…"
"Boo!" Alix had snuck up behind the boy to scare him.
Yowling, Chat Noir jumped into Ladybug's arms out of fear. Unable to hold his weight in her clumsy condition, the two collapsed to the floor… again. Ladybug hissed as her boyfriend's elbow dug into her ribcage. Alix offered a helpful hand with a smirk on her face.
"Fine. Alix, you can come." She took the hand. "Chloe, you need to go home. We don't want Reverser using you or your father against us."
"She's right, Chloe. I'll feel better knowing that you're safe." Nathaniel blushed, realizing what he just said. He drew her in for a quick hug.
"Alright. I'll go home. But you'd better come and help Sabrina and me eat all of those croissants she's made!" She smacked his chest.
He chuckled, massaging where Chloe had hit him. "It's a date."
Chloe winked at Ladybug on her way out. She had gotten the message. No way was she sitting this mission out! She found an empty bathroom stall near guest relations on the floor closest to the surface. Pollen emerged from the girl's bag once the door had shut.
"Come on, Pollen. It's time to call in the cavalry. BUZZ ON!"