HEY GUYS! DID YOU CATCH THE NEW YORK MIRACULOUS SPECIAL? I myself had an awesome watch party with homemade red and black chocolate chip cookies, potato soup, and a Croque Monsieur (fancy French grilled ham & cheese) :)
I will suggest reading this chapter with a soundtrack. There'll be noted music changes [INSERT SONG HERE] when the soundtrack shifts. THIS IS IT! This chapter warrants reading with something in the background.
I hope you'll forgive the slow uploads of the last couple of chapters. You know how it's the last few pounds that are the hardest to lose? Same thing with trying to wrap a story you've been working on for 2 years :)
So for now, dive in and ENJOY!
[The Phoenix, Fall Out Boy]
"They're coming!" Rose shrieked, pointing to the walkway leading up to the Eiffel Tower. Indeed, the small group of Parisian rebels and heroes were surrounded. The akuma villains formed an inner and outer ring around the base of the Tower. There was no avoiding this confrontation.
Nora adjusted her helmet as she hefted her sparring pole to rest on her shoulder. "Now's the chance for you heroes to take care of the puppet-masters! We'll take care of these guys down here. FOR PARIS!" She cried. The rebels took up the cry, scattering to deal with the villains. Rena Rouge moved to join them before she felt Ladybug's hand tug on her arm.
"They'll be fine, Rena," Ladybug whispered. She knew Alya was concerned for her sister and her mother. She was worried about her family too; if the heroes completed their missions, it would save many more people. Rena Rouge bit her lip.
"You're right, LB. Let's go take Hawkmoth down!"
The team – having caught their second wind – made quick work of scaling the Eiffel Tower. They reached the tallest platform, facing Scarlet Moth with Mayura and Catalyst standing at his sides.
"So… You've all survived…" The older man tsked.
"You bet we survived, Scarlet Dude!" Carapace retorted. He readied his shield in case he needed to call upon his Shell-ter power to protect the group. Everyone else called up their power, ready to fight.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug cried. She furrowed her brow, only needing a moment to understand how to use her Lucky Charm. She extended the spotted box that now sat in her palm to the trio in front of her. "This is a sign, Hawkmoth. You know that the Lucky Charm is always right. Give us your Miraculous and face justice for your crimes." He raised an eyebrow. Ladybug turned to the older woman next to him. "Mayura, it's not too late for you either."
Scarlet Moth scoffed at Ladybug's attempt at peace. He instead turned his attention to the boy clad in black. "Son, I've tried everything. This is the only way to save your mother… my precious Emilie." He extended his hand, as if in anticipation of receiving a gift. "We must use the combined power of your Miraculous to grant our family this wish!"
Chat Noir stiffened under his father's gaze. The boy took a steadying breath as a single tear snaked down his cheek. "Even if that is the case, Father, using that wish would come at a terrible price for someone else. Mother wouldn't want anyone to suffer on her behalf." He growled. "If you ever truly loved her, you would know that!"
Scarlet Moth sneered, stepping forward as if to strike the hero for his insolence. It was only a restraining hand on his arm from Mayura that kept the elder Agreste from doing anything rash.
"Dude," Carapace edged closer to Chat. "We are SO talking about this later." Carapace winced as he felt someone smack the back of his head.
"Now is not the time, Turtle Boy!" Queen Bee hissed.
[Only the Young, Taylor Swift]
Ladybug decided that now was the time to step in. She gestured once more to the box in her hand. "Like I said, it's not too late! You can get a second chance; be the man your wife would want you to be." She paused. "Be a better father to your son."
No one noticed Mayura slip several small trinkets from her pockets and infuse them with dark amucks. The heroes were quickly surrounded by El Campesino's Tacolings, Reflecta's Reflect dolls, and Gigantitan's lollipop creatures – all senti-monsters under Mayura's control.
"What are these things?" Rocket Rooster readied his sling shot.
"They're creatures of intense emotion under Mayura's control- that's her power" Queen Bee swung her spinning top to keep the creatures at bay
"Grab the girl." Mayura hissed to her creations.
Before any of the heroes could react, the senti-monster closest to Catalyst grabbed her. She yelped as the creature snapped her akumatized object. Catalyst fell away in a wave of purple to reveal a scowling Lila. Likewise, a purple aura surrounded Scarlet Moth as Catalyst's powers were lost.
"Toss her over the edge." Mayura commanded.
"No!" Ladybug shouted. The creature stopped, holding the girl by only her arm. Lila frantically scrabbled to hold onto anything she could.
Hawkmoth returned his attention to the group of heroes. "Surrender your Miraculous or the girl dies."
"You idiot!" Lila screamed, her eyes burning with angry tears. "You've just cost yourself your ENTIRE army! I thought we were taking them down together!" The man shrugged.
"You have talent my dear, for certain. However, your petty revenge no longer fits into my grand scheme. In regards to my army," He twirled his cane before striking the ground. "As long as I have Mayura, that's all the help I need."
[Bright, Julie and the Phantoms]
Ladybug ground her teeth. "You're both cowards! Turning on your allies!" She turned to see her friends surrounding her, heard the cheers of the Parisian rebels from down below. She stepped towards Hawkmoth. "You will never win because you don't understand the most basic thing. Even when it seems like all hope is gone, as long as you have people who are willing to stand beside you to fight for what's right, light will emerge from the darkest of places!"
Chat Noir raised his chin defiantly, placing his hand on Ladybug's left shoulder. He had chosen which side he was standing with. Rena Rouge moved to place her hand on Ladybug's right shoulder. They felt Queen Bee and Carapace place their hands on their shoulders as well. Bee smiled as Rocket Rooster slipped his hand into hers. They all jumped as a jolt went through the entire group.
"Wha-" Queen Bee murmured as she felt a pleasant warmth emanating from her Miraculous, spreading rapidly through her entire body. From the rumblings of the others, they were feeling something similar. And Ladybug seemed to be… glowing?
With each friend lending her their strength and support, Ladybug's body grew brighter and brighter. When Rooster joined in, the girl began to levitate. Chat snatched his hand back as if he had been burned.
"Mi'Lady!" He shouted.
Ladybug's entire being transformed. Her short pigtails extended into long, flowing strands with her signature red ties extending even longer. The bottom half of her suit as well as her gloves turned black while her torso remained red and spotted. Then there were the voices… Oh, those beautiful voices! Only Marinette could hear the voices. Who they were, she didn't know. She strained to hear what they were saying. They whispered how proud they were of her and her team. They whispered of the great love stories of Creation and Destruction. They whispered their secrets of the past, including…
"Ultimate Creation Power accessed." Ladybug uttered, in a voice not entirely her own. "Ultimate Creation – RESET."
Red, white, and pink beams of light shot from her palms, engulfing all of Paris. Chat Noir squinted, unable to see through the growing veil of blinding light. He screwed his eyes shut as the light suddenly became too much to bear. In his darkness, Chat heard a scream… then silence.