Six days before Halloween, Marinette sat frozen, staring at the newspaper, written by her old best friend.
AKUMAS STRIKE AGAIN: Chilling Display Unveiled in Bomb-Torn Town Square
Byline: Alya Cesaire, Investigative Reporter
In a disconcerting display of brazen malevolence, the enigmatic Akumas have left their mark once more on the beleaguered town square, still bearing the scars of a recent bombing. The unsettling tableau, discovered earlier this week, has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents and authorities alike in a state of profound unease.
The focal point of this disturbing scene is an oversized pumpkin, suspended ominously from a sturdy rope tied to a lamppost. At first glance, it appears innocuous – a seasonal nod to the impending Halloween festivities. However, a closer examination reveals a nightmarish transformation that has shaken the town to its core.
The pumpkin, roughly the size of a human head, has been grotesquely altered to represent none other than Princess Marinette herself. Two lengthy pigtails, fashioned from coarse black material, sprout from the crown of the gourd. These pigtails lend the pumpkin a disquieting semblance of the princess's hair, a cruel parody of her innocence.
The most unsettling aspect of this macabre creation is the facial motif meticulously etched onto the pumpkin's surface. Two colossal "X" marks, rendered in a foreboding shade of red, have been meticulously crafted to serve as the hollow, soulless eyes of this grotesque effigy, symbolizing the threat that looms over the princess. Between these haunting Xs, a jagged, malicious line forms a sinister grin that defies the traditional cheerfulness associated with Halloween pumpkins.
The photograph of the scene, captured under the eerie glow of lampposts, casts long and ominous shadows that seem to dance across the unnerving features of the princess-representative pumpkin. The symbolism behind this eerie display remains shrouded in mystery, but its intent is clear – a malevolent message that the Akumas are far from finished with their reign of terror.
Local authorities, in close collaboration with Princess Marinette herself, are working tirelessly to decipher the meaning behind this unsettling spectacle and to apprehend those responsible. As the community braces itself for the approaching Halloween festivities, an air of trepidation hangs heavily in the air, for the Akumas have once again proven that they are a force to be reckoned with, leaving the town to grapple with fear and uncertainty in the dark days that lie ahead.
The fact was, Marinette had no idea about the pumpkin and its symbolism until this morning. She stared at the newspaper clipping, her heart sinking with dread as she took in the disturbing message from the Akumas, stared at the pumpkin that grotesquely represented her. She took her hair out of the pigtails and pulled it into a messy bun-not fit for a princess, maybe, but she felt better.
Marinette couldn't bring herself to look at it for too long. She lowered the newspaper with a heavy sigh and pushed aside her half-eaten lunch, her appetite lost to the creeping dread that had enveloped her.
Turning to Plagg, who sat nearby, she whispered, "I'm ready for the meeting with the advisors, Mr. Plagg."
Mr. Plagg nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He moved to assist Marinette, rolling her in the wheelchair towards the meeting. Though her physical wounds had mostly healed, Tikki insisted on taking every precaution to ensure her complete recovery, hence the continued use of the wheelchair.
As they entered the meeting room, Marinette's thoughts were consumed by the impending Halloween and the mounting suspicions surrounding Chat Noir. The advisors, unaware of her eavesdropping on their discussion, were deeply engrossed in their conversation.
Advisor Pliara remarked, "One of the guards reported seeing Chat Noir in the vicinity last night. Someone went missing afterward, leaving behind a message from the Akumas in town."
Marinette's heart raced as she realized the implications. The advisors seemed to believe that Chat Noir was either an Akuma or associated with them. They discussed the potential threat to the crown as if she were not in the room.
Another advisor chimed in, "We should write an unofficial message to the guards, urging them to arrest Chat Noir discreetly. We can't take any chances."
Marinette knew she had to intervene, to protect her friend from unjust accusations. She cleared her throat and began, "I understand your concerns, but there's no concrete evidence to suggest that Chat Noir poses a threat to the crown."
Advisor Duval, his eyes narrowing, fixed a menacing gaze on her. "Princess, it's not your place to question our decisions. We must prioritize the safety of the kingdom."
Marinette felt a lump in her throat but couldn't back down. She tried to reason with them, "I believe Chat Noir is innocent. We shouldn't jump to conclusions."
But Duval glared at her, while no one else looked at her.
"Was there any proof that he was hurting someone? Was he seen with the pumpkin? I don't think we should jump to conclus-"
"Your highness, with all due respect," Duval interrupted, voice oozing with cold disrespect, "you were the target of that message. You may believe Chat Noir is innocent, but there is no reason to believe so. He is a threat. This is something we all have agreed on."
She wasn't in the room for long before the meeting concluded, everyone in agreement that Chat Noir would be arrested imediately, finalizing it with Advisor Pliara saying, "We must exercise caution when dealing with Chat Noir. We cannot trust his intentions fully. If necessary, we should consider arresting him to extract any information he may possess."
Marinette's blood ran cold. She couldn't let that happen. Chat Noir was her ally, her confidant. She had to reach out to him and warn him before it was too late.
When the meeting concluded, she and Plagg went to classes.
"This isn't fair," she said to him.
He sighed, turning the corner from behind. She felt the air spin. "This is not a job where fairness is common," he said plainly.
"Can't it be?" she said.
He hummed, giving her an unclear answer.
When they arrived at the classroom, Marinette, with trembling fingers, grabbed her phone and sent a text message to Chat Noir, urging him to be cautious and informing him of the advisors' suspicions. She pleaded with him to stay out of harm's way and promised to find a way to clear his name.
She stared at her phone, getting a response within seconds.
Hamsterman32: ill be more careful, but i did find something in the area... a ring, with the numbers 2412
Marinette's mind raced as she considered the significance of the numbers. She knew she had to piece together this puzzle to unravel the truth behind the Akumas. The fate of her kingdom, Chat Noir, and herself depended on it.
But she didn't have enough time to dwell or even to respond. Instead, Adrien walked into the room, a solemn expression on his face, and when he looked at her, it quickly became unreadable.
"You okay?" he asked as Plagg walked back towards the board, beginning his lesson on Battle Strategy Chapter 18.
She shrugged, feeling more bothered by the message from Chat than she did about the pumpkin, although now that she was thinking about it, the two stacked on each other significantly until she felt her chest squeezed, staring at Plagg without hearing anything.
Plagg continued his lecture, drawing diagrams on the board and discussing strategic maneuvers. Marinette tried her best to focus, to immerse herself in the lesson and push aside the worries that had consumed her.
After the class ended, Marinette couldn't help but feel a growing unease. The impending Halloween celebration, the ominous messages from the Akumas, and the threat looming over Chat Noir weighed heavily on her mind. She knew she had to do something, to unravel the mysteries and protect those she cared about.
And oh, god, she thought as she watched Adrien chat with Tikki on their walk in the cold, dead garden, she also constantly had to worry about her feelings about Adrien. Maybe, just maybe, she should check one of those issues off the list.
Halloween morning, Marinette and Adrien lounged in the library - Marinette reading the uninformative newspaper while Adrien played on his phone. They were supposed to be doing homework, but it was obvious they were feeling more lax than they should. Marinette had spend the last few days too busy to respond to Chat's texts, which got increasingly more worried about her. She sighed, rereading the messages, and sent him a message.
ladyofthenight: Hey, how's everything going? Any updates?
Chat Noir's reply came almost instantly.
hamsterman32: LADYBUG! I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
ladyofthenight: Sorry it took a second to respond. I fell asleep.
hamsterman32: glad you got a six-day rest 3 some people call that a coma, i call that a win
hamsterman32: but its been quiet on my end, but im keeping my eyes peeled. how are you? are you feeling better?
Marinette smiled.
ladyofthenight: I'm good. I'll be able to meet up soon, I think. Be careful out there. We still don't know what the akumas next plans are.
hamsterman32: always careful, my lady! u know me
hamsterman32: ladybug... you are something else. don't push yourself, or else!
ladyofthenight: Or else what?
hamsterman32: or else i'd have to kill you
ladyofthenight: You know, in some places, that might be considered a threat.
hamsterman32: a threat that ill hold up :) so dont push yourself!
Smiling at her phone, Marinette started to write what she hoped was a witty reply, but the heavy door to the library swung open. Both she and Adrien jumped. Adrien's phone flung across the room, while Marinette's flew under her lap, and picking up their books, they pretended to read. They made eye contact, and had to look away before they started laughing.
Tikki sauntered in, jumping excitedly.
"I have news!" she said giddily.
Adrien smiled brightly, hiding his laughter. "Please do share, Tikki!"
Thinking the overly happy response was for her, Tikki spun around, hands held together around her heart and heels clunking on the stone ground. "Next week, we start dance lessons."
Marinette felt her blood go cold as her smile fell. Her voice squeaked, "Dance lessons?"
"Absolutely" Tikki sang. "For the Christmas ball!"
"Christmas? But that's..." Marinette did some mental calculations... "That's, like, a million months away."
Adrien laughed. "That's two months away, Your Highness," he said, bowing his head dramatically.
"But I can't.. I can't dance." She heard herself saying before she could stop herself.
Tikki gave her a Look. "All the more reason to talk about it now. Christmas is right around the corner. In fact, Christmas might be the time that the next stage in your relationship happens, and we need to make it as special as possible."
Marinette couldn't stop the heat flush to her cheeks, unable to deny the flutter of nervousness in her stomach. She kept her eyes off of Adrien, their last almost-kiss playing behind her eyelids. She cringed, unable to deny the flutter of nervousness in her stomach.
"What do you mean, the next step?" Adrien asked. Marinette was not sure how he managed to sound so casual about it.
Tikki giggled. An honest-to-god giggle. "We'll' have to talk about that more in private!" But then, she lifted up her left hand and wiggled her fingers while pointing with the other hand. "But for now, just know that dance lessons start on Sunday!"
When Tikki left, the air was heavy. Marinette felt frozen, but then Adrien laughed, and Marinette's head swung towards him in confusion.
He was grinning cheekily at her. "You're a bad dancer?"
Marinette groaned, putting her face in her hands.
"Come on, Marinette, I find that hard to believe. You're so graceful," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Marinette playfully swatted her hand his way. "Oh, please. I'm a walking disaster on the dance floor."
Adrien chuckled, "Well, lucky for you, I happen to be a fantastic dancer. Maybe I can give you some lessons."
Marinette's heart skipped a beat at the thought of dancing with Adrien. "I'll probably injure the hell out of you."
Adrien smiled warmly, "It would be my pleasure to fall with you."
Marinette flushed, and Adrien stood, pulling out his phone to play some soft music. He walked over to her, holding his hand out, inviting her to join him. Hesitantly, Marinette grabbed it and stood.
As the music played softly in the background, Adrien led her to the center of the room. Their bodies swayed to the rhythm of the music. Marinette couldn't help but smile at the comical situation, not actually dancing but just bounding left to right.
"See? You're doing great," Adrien praised, his eyes locked on hers.
Marinette looked down at their feet, barely moving side to side. "Thanks to your amazing teaching skills," she teased, her voice filled with playful sarcasm.
Adrien smirked, "I'm a man of many talents."
Marinette laughed. "Well, I guess I'll have to keep practicing if I want to impress you at the ball."
Adrien twirled her playfully, and Marinette spun with an exaggerated flourish, almost tripping over her own feet. "Oh, I have no doubt that you'll be the belle of the ball, Princess."
Marinette grinned, her earlier nervousness giving way to amusement. "Oh, so now I'm a princess, am I?"
Adrien winked, playing along with the banter. "Only when you're in my arms."
Their laughter filled the room as they continued dancing, their movements light and carefree. Adrien was well balanced, moved with softness. He held her left hand in his right, and she put her right hand on his shoulder. But as the music played on, a subtle shift occurred in the atmosphere. The playful teasing began to give way to something... different. It felt magnetic.
As the soft music played, Adrien led her to different spots in the room. The space between them seemed to diminish with every step, and they swayed together, their bodies so close that Marinette felt hot, and suddenly she felt her skin was on fire. Every movement flushed through her, and she felt like she was dancing on a tightrope with him, realizing that one step could take her away from the frriendship they currently stood on.
Marinette's gaze met Adrien's, but she froze at his expression. He was already looking at her. His eyes were warm and open, and for the first time, she could see what he was thinking. It was desire, and she wondered if he could see it mirrored in her own. Their smiles faded, replaced by a more serious and longing look. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of them, stuck in a dance that went beyond the steps they were taking. Later, Marinette wouldn't remember when they'd stopped dancing, or how long they stood there, so close together.
But just as their lips were about to touch, the heavy library door swung open with a creak, breaking the moment. Marinette and Adrien pulled away from each other, their faces flushed with embarrassment, and turned to see a messenger standing in the doorway.
"Mr. Agreste," the messenger said, his voice shaking slightly, "your father has arrived at the castle. He wishes to meet with you and the princess."
Marinette's heart sank as she watched Adrien's expression change from one of warmth to one of tension. She tilted her head at his odd response. Did he have a strained relationship with his father?
Adrien nodded to the messenger, his voice tight, "Thank you for letting me know. I'll be there shortly."
As the messenger left, Adrien turned back to Marinette, his smile forced. "I'm sorry, Marinette..."
Marinette swallowed her disappointment, smiling too widely, wanting to reassure him. It was harder than she expected. "Of course! Let's go"
Adrien gave her a grateful look, his hand briefly touching her cheek, which jump started her heart again "Let's go."
With a final, lingering glance, the two descended the grand staircase, each step echoing through the entry hall. Gabriel Agreste, a commanding presence, stood by the front doors with a sense of icy formality, moving as if HE was the one who owned the palace. He inclined his head in a shallow bow as they approached, his voice measured and detached. Marinette immediately decided she didn't like him.
"Adrien," he addressed his son, his tone devoid of warmth. "I apologize for any inconvenience. My schedule has been quite demanding."
Adrien appeared visibly tense, his usual self-assured demeanor replaced by an uneasiness that didn't escape Marinette's notice. It reminded her of his coldness when she first met him - and now she could see where it came from. He introduced them with a forced smile, "Father, may I present Princess Marinette. Marinette, this is my father, Gabriel Agreste."
Marinette, though still racing with nerves, quickly composed herself. She smiled politely, her words measured, "Monsieur Agreste. Lovely to meet you."
Marinette's eyes were drawn to Gabriel's ring, and a flicker of recognition ignited in her mind. She immediately felt strange at his presence in the castle. It felt wrong. His earrings, they looked like they were crafted from the same material as the Akuma jewelry, the same as the brooch, the same as the bracelet. She would bet that if she saw the jewelry Chat just found, it would be the same.
Although she couldn't discern any hidden numbers or symbols on them, their mere presence sent a shiver down her spine, prompting her to close herself off from Gabriel even more.
With an effort to maintain a courteous facade, Marinette commented, "Your ring is... unique. Lovely." She didn't even care that she'd just used the word Lovely twice.
Gabriel acknowledged the compliment with a reserved nod, his expression unyielding. "Thank you, Your Highness. It was a gift."
Marinette probed further, her curiosity getting the better of her, "I assume they were custom-made?"
"Yes," Gabriel replied tersely. "They hold significant sentimental value to me."
Adrien cleared his throat. "Well, father, what brings you here."
Gabriel turned his gaze to his son. "Can a father not see his son without needing anything?" he asked.
Adrien flushed, but otherwise had no change of expression. "Of course, father... I just meant, is there something specific you needed, or do you want to sit down?"
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "I am here simply to say hello, to meet the woman that you are courting. It's something that should have happened quite some time ago, but things have been... busy."
Marinette cleared her throat, desperately trying to alleviate the awkward atmosphere. "Well, Monsieur Agreste, thank you for coming. How has work been? I've always loved your work."
Gabriel's response was measured, his eyes briefly flickering with a hint of something Marinette couldn't quite discern. "Thank you, Your Highness, fashion has always been a significant part of my life."
Adrien attempted to contribute to the conversation, though his voice still carried a hint of unease. "His work is renowned worldwide."
Marinette nodded, eager to keep the discussion flowing, despite the tension that seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog. "It's impressive,, to have made such a name for yourself in the world of fashion."
Gabriel inclined his head, acknowledging her words with a curt nod. "It's been a lifelong passion, so thank you for the acknowledgement. Adrien mentioned that you were interested in fashion?"
Marinette gave Adrien a surprised look. She didn't remember ever telling him that, and his cheeks flushed when he realized that fact. "I am," she said.
The conversation teetered on the edge of silence again. Marinette wanted to ease the tension, to make this meeting less strained, but she couldn't ignore the unsettling feeling that was buzzed in the air, and as their silence continued, Marinette couldn't help but steal occasional glances at Gabriel's ring, her unease growing. There was more to this situation than met the eye, and she couldn't shake the feeling that Gabriel Agreste held secrets that could impact her kingdom and those she cared about.