Its a bit disorienting to wake in a dark cell, but I find a tray with a piece of bread and a cup of water on it. I cautiously nibble at the bread, and I'm surprised when I find that its not half bad. Though I do take extra precautions on the water though, and pour a few droplets of water purifying in it.

I need Argos and Kagami now more then ever since Cat isn't here beside me. My eyes sting a bit as long ago back in Paris they were the only ones who understand when Adrien left for London for a time. My other so called friends just partied the night away, and one of them even knew I was Ladybug. Some friends.

"We were beginning to wonder how your doing," Argos says as Kagami gives me a hug. I hug her back, glad for human contact. "Until the sewer drain swirled us in, we were doing just fine. Did you see Crone's video?" They nod, and my heart lurches at Argos's serious face. "That's not all she put out, Marinette. Look."

Things can't be good if he's calling me Marinette while I'm Ladybug. "Look at your phone," he says, and we crowd around the small screen. "There will be a reward for capturing Ladybug and Cat Noir who mysteriously disappeared from Paris. But why would they have a need to after defeating Hawkmoth? They only want to keep power for themselves and need to be brought to justice.

I slam my fist into the wall, my temper flaring. "How dare she accuse us of using our powers for personal gain? The Miraculous don't work like that!" "Easy, Ladybug. You know she tells lies, but the people belive her. Times are different now." "Felix, I want to be in fashion magazines, not on a wanted poster!"

Felix then surprises me, for he bursts into laughter and he's the most serious person I know, with Orion now coming in a close second. "I'm sorry, but that's just…" Felix hugs his sides. I give a small giggle and nudge him. "Glad you find this so amusing." "Yeah, but look at your face, and Cat looks like he wanted to be on camera!" I laugh. "Yeah, Cat loves attention. I'm surprised he hasn't asked for a belly rub yet." "Felix, your forgetting that there's more to the video. Well, the other video." "There's more," I ask, wiping tears of laughing from my eyes.

"We had to unscramble it, but I think we got it." Hawkmoth is hosting a party for elite guests, slated for tomorrow evening. "That would a perfect time to look around," I groan. "Everyone would be distracted." "Ahem, you do have friends that could stand in for you," Kagami winks. "It just might work! But we'd have to be very...oh, wait." My spirits sink. "They recognize us in a instant with our masks." "Ah, but its a masquerade, and Kagami has been planning some outfits for you in case this happened." "I'll get you and Cat the clothes tomorrow night. And after all, who doesn't love a good party!" "Wait a minute, love. How would we get to Cat?" "You forget that I know how to pick locks. Who knew a hair pick could be so devious?" "Brilliant." "But we need a backplan plan. Somehow get Sapphire and Orion involved. Do either of you have a pen and paper?" Kagami reaches into her bag, and hands me my items. Using my bug phone as a flashlight, I scribble out a message.

"Sapphire,

I'm sending Kagami and Argos (my teammates) to come get into the castle. You can trust them, I promise! Cat and I will be busy, and even if I can't come into contact with you, know that your the best girlfriend I could ever ask for.

I'll hug you soon,

-Ladybug

"Make sure she's gets this," I hand the letter to Felix along with The Horse Miraculous. "It will be okay, I promise."

I watch them leave, then sink down against the wall. Enough time has pasted so I sip my water and eat the last of my bread. The bread makes me wonder what my parents are doing. I'm glad that their under the impression that their fashion designer daughter is sitting at a desk right now, instead of a jail cell. If they knew the truth, they'd be sick with worry. I always hated giving them excuses though why I had to disappear all the time. But its for their good and for their protection.

I finger both my bracelets, and feel Cat and Adrien close by. I don't know how big or how many cells are in this prison, but I haven't heard any commotion which means Cat's doing okay.

Nevertheless, I lay against the wall, resting my palm against the cool stone for Cat could be on the other side of this wall.

I really hope there's a chance that I will have a chance to reveal to Cat tomorrow night. I'm ready. Even if I must play a part, I'm excited to dance with my Prince Charming, or as Cat would say, "Prince Meowing."

Throughout the day its all the same, bread and water are slid in on trays, and after a half-hour of purification I eat my fill.

But towards evening, or what I assume to be evening, a guard comes jangling keys in the lock. "They want to see you," he says, and I detect a British accent to his voice. Cat emerges from his cell a moment later with another guard.

Strange, but of their hoods are pulled up over their faces, and it gives me a eerie feeling. I catch a glimpse of a bruise on Cat's cheek, and I wish I had time to stroke his cheek and to give it a healing kiss.

Hawkmoth seems delighted to see us as he walks back and forth, his cane tapping against the ground, but when I catch sight of Crone, she is scowling. Trying not to make it look to obvious, I stare back. Her eyes are sad and hurt. But I can't dwell on it.

"Ah, Ladybug and Cat Noir! Am I delighted to see you again! Ladybug, you must be surprised to see me after you pushed me into the fog." "You jumped," I hissed. "And I thought I was done with you forever." Hawkmoth strokes the Butterfly Miraculous at his throat, not bothering to hide it, taunting me. "All this fighting for some jewelry?" "You akumatized people against your will! People could have died if it weren't for Cat and I!"

"M'lady, let's listen to his side of the story. Perhaps he has good reason." My mouth drops open and I stare at my partner. "Yes, listen to him, Ladybug. I want to bring someone back, someone I loved very much. And wouldn't you do anything to save your partner, or should I say….your lover?" Red begins to cloud my vision, and I fight to see. "There would be a terrible price to pay!" "Its to bad you feel that way," Hawkmoth now sounds nonchalant. "For your hurting someone you love." Before I can learn more we're dragged back down to our cells.

Who would I be hurting that I love, for all who I love are right here around me. Wait. Adrien. And if Cat is Adrien, it would make why he wanted to hear Hawkmoth's side of story. Could it be Gabriel Agreste under the mask? I've always had my auspiciousness, but whenever I came close, the trail ran cold.

But the pieces do fit. "If you truly loved him, you would let him save his mother!" Hawkmoth's voice rings over the mist of time, and with a small cry, I slump down curling myself into a tight ball.

But there has to be another way to bring Adrien's mother back, for I wasn't joking when I said there's be a price to pay!

"Adrien, help me." My eyes are heavy, and I fall into a nightmare. Cat Blanc stares at me, his blue eyes cold and deadly. "I never met to hurt you, love." "Then bring my mother back and I'll forgive you." The fog swirls around me as he disappears, and even if I know he's dangerous, I try to follow him into the fog.

I lose my way, and the deeper I go, the more alone I feel. This isn't just a fog of a nightmare, its a fog that goes back in time. Before Adrien and Cat, I didn't have any close friends. Instead, I kept busy with sewing and dreaming of being a fashion designer. But every night I would lie awake in bed, wishing for a friend who loved me for me, and looked past the shy clumsy girl that I am.

"Marinette. Marinette." I look around, hearing Adrien's voice in the fog. Or is it Cat's? "I can hear you, but I cannot see you. Here." I detransform, hoping they'll see the flash. But the fog only grows thicker, until it becomes blackness.

I wake, shivering and shaking. Its all just a dream, and I cling to the words that Cat said all those years ago. "It will be okay, I promise."

I stand, hearing water from in the corner of the cell. A small stream splashes onto the stones, and I grab my bar of soap. Standing under the water, I not only scrub myself clean, but I scrub away the worries and the lies.

Its a day so similar to yesterday, but then Kagami shows up out of the blue. "Aren't you a little early?" I ask, as I munch my afternoon bread ration. "Marinette," she teases me in that serious voice of hers. "If your supposed to dance with the love of your life, don't you think you should get slightly dressed up?" I giggle.

Kagami helps me with my hair and makeup and then hands me a mask. I smile as I fasten it behind my ears, knowing sometime tonight my partner will find out who's behind it.