What's this? Another chapter so soon? What hath 2020 wrought?
"Master!" Chat Noir shouted. Luckily, Master Fu did not have any patients scheduled for Chinese medicinal care as three superheroes fell through his skylight into his studio. Chat Noir took the brunt of the fall, catching Rena Rouge and an unconscious Ladybug before they could further injure themselves. Fu cleared the raised mat at the center of the room while Wayzz hovered nervously nearby.
"Bring her here," The older man directed. Chat laid Ladybug carefully on the mat just as his transformation expired. Fu could now see the terrified boy beneath the mask. "Adrien, what happened?"
"I don't know!" Adrien panted. Rena Rouge also appeared out of breath, sitting in the corner with her head between her legs. "One minute we were getting ready to take on Hawkmoth, then she started glowing and shooting these LAZERS out of her hands!" Adrien ran one of his through his mass of sweaty hair, eyes wide. "There was a bright light- "
"And a scream." Rena added from her corner. "Don't forget the scream."
Adrien nodded. "It sounded like a man. Maybe it was Hawkmoth? Anyway, we were all knocked out by the light. When we came to, Ladybug was still levitating before gasping and… she collapsed. Rena and I ran here with Ladybug on my back all the way from the Eiffel Tower. The others stayed behind to help the police with…" He took a shuddering breath, not wanting to think about all of that right now. All that mattered was his Lady.
"What of Hawkmoth? Is there anything else about this encounter you can tell me?" Fu rung out a damp washcloth to sponge Ladybug's forehead.
"I didn't see much in my rush to get her here, but I did see Hawkmoth and Mayura knocked out and detransformed. But all of the damage to Paris was gone and the city was FULL of white butterflies." The boy gently moved a strand of hair away from Ladybug's face. "I've never seen her do this, Master. Is it possible for her to do all of that at once?"
Fu froze. "Ultimate Creation." He whispered.
Rena Rouge leapt up as her transformation ended as well. "That's it!" She exclaimed, pointing to the older man. "She said that right before her Miraculous Chernobyl episode!" No one took notice of the kwamis congregating next to the sonophone.
Trixx floated over to Wayzz and Plagg before nudging them towards the portal to the Miracle Box. "Let's give the humans some space. The Master's going to have to go there and he'll need to concentrate." Plagg whimpered, casting a mournful eye at Ladybug's earrings. Wayzz patted his friend's head.
"Trixx is correct, Plagg. Master will guide them out. In addition, Tikki hasn't been there in quite some time. It will be good for her to see them again."
The black kwami sighed, knowing they were right. He met Adrien's eyes before gesturing to where the Miracle Box was hidden. The boy nodded before returning his attention to the man in front of him.
"Master? What's this Ultimate Creation thing? Will Marinette be okay?"
Fu rose from his kneeling position next to the girl in question, muttering to himself all the way to the kitchen. Alya took up the duty to brush the damp washcloth across Ladybug's face to keep her cool. Both teens spun towards the kitchen at the sound of cupboards being slammed and the tea-kettle's high pitch whistle. Adrien shifted to make room for Master Fu next to Ladybug's head. He poured water into his mug as he began to explain.
"Ultimate Creation is a special Ladybug power that has not been unlocked in generations." Fu stirred a foul-smelling powder into his tea, wrinkling his nose as he did so. "If Marinette has indeed unlocked this power, I know where she has gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Adrien claimed Ladybug's hand within his own. "She's right here!"
"Her body, yes. Her spirit, however, is…" Fu gestured his hand uncertainly. "…elsewhere. I must go in after her. They are notoriously pushy and love to get their way."
Alya leaned forward as Fu knocked back his tea in one gulp. "Who's they?"
Fu covered Ladybug's eyes with his fingers, quickly falling into a meditative trance. "Why, the past Ladybugs, of course."
I know that this is a shorter chapter, but long time reader Rose Tiger was in such distress over last chapter's cliffhanger that I just had to sit down and crank something out! ;) I also was laughing evilly in my head at this tease for you guys.
Not 100% when the next chapter will come out, but it looks like our finale will be between Chapters 38-40 (we'll see how much more time I need to wrap everything up).
And not to worry! Chapter 39 will give more angsty explanation as to what fully happened post Ultimate Creation Reset with our villains.
Until next time, STAY CREATIVE!